“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 thing.  Besides, why should not the old man know something of hidden treasure?  He had sailed in many waters and been on many ships.  Bob decided he would visit him that night.

Accordingly, when it grew dusk, he set off for the lonely house where the old sailor lived.  It was quite a walk, but in his eagerness Bob covered the ground in short time.  As he was passing a clump of bushes, not far from his destination, he was surprised to hear a voice calling sharply from the darkness: 

“Avast there!”

“Who is it?” asked Bob.

“It’s me,” replied Captain Obed in his husky voice.  “I hid out here to signal you so’s you wouldn’t be followed.”

“Followed?  Who by?”

“By persons anxious to get hold of the secret map that tells of the treasure buried on the island.  Are you all alone, Bob?”

“Of course.”

“Then go ahead into my house.  I’ll follow as soon as I’ve taken an observation.”

The boy thought the old man must be rather queer to imagine any one would try to steal his secret, if secret he had.  Bob was half inclined to give the whole thing up.  But he walked on, and was soon inside the rather humble home of the retired mariner.  Presently Captain Obed entered and quickly closed the door.

“Have to be very careful—­very careful,” he said in a whisper.  “If any one knowed I had this map they’d rob me of it.”

He pulled down the shades of the windows, and then carefully locking the door he went to another room.  Bob heard him fumbling about, and soon the old man came out with a yellowish piece of paper in his hand.

“Feel of it,” he said to Bob.

Bob did so.  It was stiff and crackly.

“Parchment—­parchment,” whispered Captain Obed.  “The map is drawed on parchment—­that’s sheepskin instead of paper.  He wanted it to last for years and years.”

“Who did?”

Once more Captain Obed looked around to see if by chance any one had stolen into the room.  He made Bob rather nervous.