the night.

"Why not aboard the sloop?" queried Vinton, though he knew perfectly
well that Dave would seek any excuse to stretch his unseaworthy limbs
on _terra firma_ in preference to tossing on the bosom of old ocean.

"Bad weather comin',---windy to-night," said the Seminole prophet,
pointing to a bank of jagged slaty-gray clouds that was rising in the
west over the gulf.

"Reckon you're right, Dave. If that brings half the wind its looks
promise, I'd ruther have these keys between it and us---eh? There's
anuther squall brewin' out yonder. Come on, let's go ashore, lads."

Making in shoreward, the _Arrow_ presently cast anchor off a shallow
cove "inside" the nearest bar. All five boys got into the sloop's
dory, and after landing the others on the beach, Hugh rowed back to
the sloop to bring the captain, Norton and the guide ashore. When
they landed, they discovered Billy and Alec, Chester and Mark
engaged in examining a big battered tin box, locked, with its cover
sealed up with black sealing wax, which they had found half buried
in the sand.

"What is it? What have you got there?" Hugh asked quickly, running
forward.

"It looks like part of Captain Kidd's buried treasure!" said Billy,
whose eyes were sparkling with anticipation.

"Nothing of the sort!" declared matter-of-fact Chester. "It's