I could not avoid strolling out to the Beacon Tree the next day.  I did so in the most off-hand manner and with the most unconcerned expression I could assume; but had any one scrutinized my countenance, I am sure he would easily have detected the deep agitation under which I was laboring.

I was considerably disturbed, upon examining the immediate surroundings of the tree, to discover signs which looked as if some one had been digging there quite recently.

“The secret has become known and the treasure has been carried off,” I gasped, with a rapidly throbbing heart.

Reflection, however, reassured me.  No one had seen the writing in the bottle beside myself (though evidently it must have been known to others), and it was certain that if any person had succeeded in unearthing the hidden wealth, he would not have taken the trouble to hide all signs with such extreme care.  Closer examination, too, convinced me there had been no digging about the tree at all.  And yet I was mistaken.

We three reached the old poplar the next evening between ten and eleven o’clock.  Arthur had escaped inquiry by slipping out of his bedroom window after bidding his parents good-night; and, inasmuch as the lantern which I carried was not lit until we arrived at the tree, we were confident of escaping attention.  Still I watched sharply, and was greatly relieved to discover no persons abroad at that hour beside ourselves.

Since the treasure was located but three feet below the surface, in sandy soil, I brought only one shovel, while the boys watched me, one holding the lantern, and both casting furtive glances around to guard against eavesdroppers.  It would be useless to deny my excitement.  My heart at times throbbed painfully, and more than once I was on the point of ceasing until I could regain mastery of myself.

“Pop, you must be nearly deep enough,” said Frank, in a guarded undertone.

“I’m pretty near to the place,” I replied stopping a minute to draw my handkerchief across my perspiring forehead.

“I’m afraid there’s somebody watching us,” added Arthur.

“Where?” I asked in affright, staring around in the gloom.

“I thought I saw a man moving out yonder.”

“Well, it’s too late for him to interfere now,” I said, compressing my lips and renewing my digging more determinedly than ever; “I carry a revolver with me, and I don’t mean to be robbed.”

The next moment my heart gave a great throb, for the shovel struck something hard.

“Hold the lantern down here, Frank, quick!” I commanded in a hoarse voice.

He obeyed, but to my disappointment the object proved to be a large stone.

“I guess it’s under that,” I whispered, stopping work for a moment.

“Pop, there’s another piece of paper,” said Frank.

I stooped over and picked it up.  I saw that there was writing on it, and holding it up beside the lantern read: