“We cannot have all those boys visiting the place and getting in our way,” sputtered Percival when it was suggested by Harry that he and one or two others go with the party.

“But we would not be in the way,” said young Dickson, “and we might be of assistance.”

“How did you find it out anyhow?” asked Percival.  “We did not say anything about it.”

“I don’t know, but, at any rate, it is all around, and everybody knows about it.  I heard Herring talking about it.  He seems to think it is a big hoax, and that you did not find anything.”

“Well, we did, all the same, but we don’t want a lot of fellows with us, and, besides, it is dangerous.  Never mind, Hal.  You are in with us on the most of our adventures, but I don’t think you had better go this time.  We have promised to take young Jesse W. with us, as he was there the first time, but not the second, and he has never seen the cabin with its strange lights, the swash of water outside, the chest of gold and all that.”

“H’m! you make me want to go with you all the more,” said Harry, half laughing, half impatient.  “You should not appeal to a boy’s imagination like that, Dick.  I want to go with you now the worst way.”

“Well, I suppose you do, but you’ll have to be satisfied with what I tell you about it.  I’ll write a composition about it, and you will think you are reading Jules Verne and the Arabian Nights all over again.”

“You be smothered!” sputtered Harry, half cross and half good natured.  “As if that would satisfy me.”

“It will have to, Hal,” laughed Percival.  “Never mind, I’ll give you a ten-dollar gold piece to hang on your watch chain as a charm.  You can say it was one that Captain Kidd had.”

“Yes, and they were not made at that time, two hundred years ago,” said Harry in disgust.  “Well, never mind.  Billy Manners and I will find a buried treasure, and never let you have a smell of it”

“All right, Harry,” and Dick went away to get Jack, young Smith and the captain, and start on their visit to the point.

The captain had a rope and an axe, and Jack took his pocket flash along with him, having found it very useful on the second visit to the submerged vessel.

They climbed up the rocks, and found the place where they had gone down, but now the opening was so small, more rocks having fallen in, apparently, since their last visit, that they doubted if they could get down.

“I am afraid we shall have to give it up,” said Jack in some disappointment.  “The last time Dick and I were here we had to squeeze through to get out, but now it seems worse than before.”

“Let me try, Jack,” said young Smith eagerly.  “I am only a little fellow, and can get through where big fellows like you and Dick could not.  Don’t you remember how you put me through the little window at the Academy, that time of the rebellion in the school?  Well, you can use me now in the same way.  I want to see that place down there.  You know I did not see it the last time, and I want to see it very much.  Try, Jack.  I am not so big, and can squeeze through almost anywhere.”