"Hush! Not so loud. I've a great secret to disclose."

"What about?" asked Bob with a smile, thinking to humor the old
captain.

"About buried treasure. It's on a lonely island in the Southern
Pacific Ocean. I'm the only living man who knows where it is. If I
wasn't so old I'd go along and help find it. But I'm too old. It
needs some one young and strong. You'll dig it up for me, won't
you?"

"If I could find it," replied Bob, believing the aged man was
speaking of some delusion.

"Oh, you can find it. I have the secret map. I'll give it to you.
Come to my house to-night, but after dark--after dark, mind." And,
once more looking around to see that no one had observed him,
Captain Obed shuffled on down the street. Bob did not know what to
think.




CHAPTER IX

BOB'S LAST LAND JOKE

Returning home, Bob said nothing to his mother about what Captain
Obed had said. The boy wanted to think more about it. If he could
combine a treasure hunt with his sea voyage it would be a fine