“But what about the fortune—­was it recovered?” asked Tom.

“No.”

“Then the money has long since been spent,” cried Sam in dismay.

“No, Sam, the money and the jewels, to the best of my belief, have never been touched.  When the revolutionists carried them off they said they were going straight back to Central America with them.  Instead, however, they landed on an island of the West Indies and there started to divide the fortune.  This caused a bitter fight, in which several of the party were killed and wounded.  Then it was decided to hide the money and jewels in a cave on the island and make a division later.  A place was selected and the gold and jewels placed under heavy rocks in a small cave.  After that the party sailed away.  When they got home, much to their surprise and dismay, they found their country in the hands once more of the government.  They were captured and all but two were sentenced to be shot as traitors.  The two were sent to prison and they were released less than a year ago.  One was a Spaniard named Doranez and the other a Spanish American sailor named Camel, but usually called Bahama Jack, because he has spent nearly all his life among the Bahama Islands.”

“Did those two men go after the treasure when they got out of prison?” asked Sam.

“They wanted to, but were poor and had forgotten the exact location of the island where the treasure was hidden.  Bahama Jack was a happy go lucky sort of a sailor and he came to this country and worked for a while on a lumber schooner running from Florida to Boston.  Doranez also came to this country, but where he kept himself at first I do not know.”

“Go on, Dad, this is getting exciting,” broke in Tom, as his parent paused in his recital.

“Not long ago Mrs. Stanhope came to me for advice concerning this matter.  Mr. Laning had told her everything, and she wanted to know if it would be worth while to organize an expedition to hunt for the treasure.  I said I would look into the matter and ask her to give me what papers Mr. Stanhope had left in reference to the affair.  I started to hunt up Bahama Jack and Doranez.  After a good deal of work I found the former and had several long talks with him.”

“Did you get any news from him?” asked Dick.

“A little.  He does not remember exactly where the island was located, but told much about its general appearance and what other islands were in that vicinity.  But he also told me something else, which worried me a good deal.  It was that Sid Merrick, as the heir of Silas Merrick, was also after the treasure.”

CHAPTER VII

IN WHICH SOMETHING IS MISSING

“Sid Merrick after the treasure!” cried Dick.

“Yes.  He wants it both for himself and for his nephew, Tad Sobber.  He claims that the revolutionists took it from a ship belonging in part to his brother and consequently he has as much right to it as has Mrs. Stanhope.”