cask of rum, and all through the night we will listen to their
drunken howlings, and from the cabin airport watch the body of the
first mate rolling in the lee scuppers."

"But you forget," I protested eagerly, "there is always ONE
faithful member of the crew, who----"

Edgar interrupted me impatiently.

"I have not overlooked him," he said. "He is a Jamaica negro of
gigantic proportions, or the ship's cook; but he always gets his
too, and he gets it good. They throw HIM to the sharks! Then we all
camp out on a desert island inhabited only by goats, and we build
a stockade, and the mutineers come to treat with us under a white
flag, and we, trusting entirely to their honor, are fools enough to
go out and talk with them. At which they shoot us up, and withdraw
laughing scornfully." Edgar fixed his eye-glasses upon me
accusingly.

"Am I right, or am I wrong?" he demanded. I was unable to answer.
"The only man," continued Edgar warmly who ever showed the
slightest intelligence in the matter was the fellow in the 'Gold
Bug. HE kept his mouth shut. He never let any one know that he was
after buried treasure, until he found it. That's me! Now I know
EXACTLY where this treasure is, and----"

I suppose, involuntarily, I must have given a start of interest;
for Edgar paused and shook his head, slyly and cunningly. "And if
you think I have the map on my person now," he declared in triumph,
"you'll have to guess again!"