my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第3节
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waterfront on the Sound； a motor…boat； and； as I was not sure which make
I preferred； three automobiles。 I had at my own； expense produced a play
of mine that no manager had appreciated； and its name in electric lights
was already blinding Broadway。 I had purchased a Hollander express rifle；
a REAL amber cigar holder； a private secretary who could play both rag…
time and tennis； and a fur coat。 So Edgar's generous offer left me naked。
When I had again accustomed myself to the narrow confines of my flat；
and the jolt of the surface cars； I asked humbly：
〃Is that ALL I get？〃
〃Why should you expect any more？〃 demanded Edgar。 〃It isn't YOUR
treasure。 You wouldn't expect me to make you a present of an interest in
my mills； why should you get a share of my treasure？〃 He gazed at me
reproachfully。 〃I thought you'd be pleased；〃 he said。 〃 It must be hard to
think of things to write about； and I'm giving you a subject for nothing。 I
thought；〃 he remonstrated； 〃you'd jump at the chance。 It isn't every day a
man can dig for buried treasure。〃
〃That's all right；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps I appreciate that quite as well as you
do。 But my time has a certain small value； and I can't leave my work just
for excitement。 We may be weeks； months How long do you think we
〃
Behind his eye…glasses Edgar winked reprovingly。
〃That is a leading question；〃 he said。 〃I will pay all your legitimate
expensestransportation； food； lodging。 It won't cost you a cent。 And you
write the storywith my name left out；〃 he added hastily； 〃it would hurt
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my standing in the trade；〃 he explained 〃and get paid for it。〃
I saw a sea voyage at Edgar's expense。 I saw palm leaves； coral reefs。 I
felt my muscles aching and the sweat run from my neck and shoulders as I
drove my pick into the chest of gold。
〃I'll go with you！〃 I said。 We shook hands on it。 〃When do we start？〃 I
asked。
〃Now！〃 said Edgar。 I thought he wished to test me； he had touched
upon one of my pet vanities。
〃You can't do that with me！〃 I said。 〃My bags are packed and ready for
any place in the wide world； except the cold places。 I can start this minute。
Where is it； the Gold Coast； the Ivory Coast； the Spanish Main〃
Edgar frowned inscrutably。 〃Have you an empty suit…case？〃 he asked。
〃Why EMPTY？〃 I demanded。
〃To carry the treasure；〃 said Edgar。 〃I left mine in the hall。 We will
need two。〃
〃And your trunks？〃 I said。
〃There aren't going to be any trunks；〃 said Edgar。 From his pocket he
had taken a folder of the New Jersey Central Railroad。 〃If we hurry；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃 we can catch the ten…thirty express； and return to New York
in time for dinner。〃
〃And what about the treasure？〃 I roared。
〃We'll' bring it with us；〃 said Edgar。
I asked for information。 I demanded confidences。 Edgar refused both。 I
insisted that I might be allowed at least to carry my automatic pistol。
〃Suppose some one tries to take the treasure from us？〃 I pointed out。
〃No one；〃 said Edgar severely； 〃would be such an ass as to imagine we
are carrying buried treasure in a suit…case。 He will think it contains
pajamas。〃
〃For local color； then；〃 I begged； 〃I want to say in my story that I went
heavily armed。〃
〃Say it； then；〃 snapped Edgar。 〃But you can't DO it！ Not with me； you
can't！ How do I know you mightn't〃 He shook his head warily。
It was a day in early October； the haze of Indian summer was in the air；
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and as we crossed the North River by the Twenty… third Street Ferry the
sun flashed upon the white clouds overhead and the tumbling waters
below。 On each side of us great vessels with the Blue Peter at the fore lay
at the wharfs ready to cast off； or were already nosing their way down the
channel toward strange and beautiful ports。 Lamport and Holt were rolling
down to Rio； the Royal Mail's MAGDALENA； no longer 〃white and
gold；〃 was off to Kingston； where once seven pirates swung in chains； the
CLYDE was on her way to Hayti where the buccaneers came from； the
MORRO CASTLE was bound for Havana； which Morgan； king of all the
pirates； had once made his own； and the RED D was steaming to Porto
Cabello where Sir Francis Drake； as big a buccaneer as any of them； lies
entombed in her harbor。 And I was setting forth on a buried…treasure
expedition on a snub…nosed； flat… bellied； fresh…water ferry…boat； bound for
Jersey City！ No one will ever know my sense of humiliation。 And； when
the Italian boy insulted my immaculate tan shoes by pointing at them and
saying； 〃Shine？〃 I could have slain him。 Fancy digging for buried treasure
in freshly varnished boots！ But Edgar did not mind。 To him there was
nothing lacking； it was just as it should be。 He was deeply engrossed in
calculating how many offices were for rent in the Singer Building！
When we reached the other side； he refused to answer any of my eager
questions。 He would not let me know even for what place on the line he
had purchased our tickets； and； as a hint that I should not disturb him； he
stuffed into my hands the latest magazines。 〃At least tell me this；〃 I
demanded。 〃Have you ever been to this place before to…day？〃
〃0nce；〃 said Edgar shortly； 〃last week。 That's when I found out I would
need some one with me who could dig。〃
〃How do you know it's the RIGHT place？〃 I whispered。
The summer season was over； and of the chair car we were the only
occupants； but； before he answered； Edgar looked cautiously round him
and out of the window。 We had just passed Red Bank。
〃Because the map told me；〃 he answered。 〃Suppose；〃 he continued
fretfully； 〃you had a map of New York City with the streets marked on it
plainly？ Suppose the map said that if you walked to where Broadway and
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Fifth Avenue meet； you would find the Flatiron Building。 Do you think
you could find it？〃
〃Was it as easy as THAT？〃 I gasped。
〃It was as easy as THAT！〃 said Edgar。
I sank back into my chair and let the magazines slide to the floor。 What
fiction story was there in any one of them so enthralling as the actual
possibilities that lay before me？ In two hours I might be bending over a
pot of gold； a sea chest stuffed with pearls and rubies！
I began to recall all the stories I had heard as a boy of treasure buried
along the coast by Kidd on his return voyage from the Indies。 Where along
the Jersey sea…line were there safe harbors？ The train on which we were
racing south had its rail head at Barnegat Bay。 And between Barnegat and
Red Bank there now was but one other inlet； that of the Manasquan River。
It might be Barnegat； it might be Manasquan。 It could not be a great
distance from either； toward the ocean down a broad； sandy road。 The
season had passed and the windows of the cottages and bungalows on
either side of the road were barricaded with planks。 On the verandas
hammocks abandoned to the winds hung in tatters； on the back porches the
doors of empty refrigerators swung open on one hinge； and on every side
above the fields of gorgeous golden…rod rose signs reading 〃For Rent。〃
When we had progressed in silence for a mile； the sandy avenue lost itself
in the deeper sand of the beach； and the horse of his own will came to a
halt。
On one side we were surrounded by locked and deserted bathing
houses； on the other by empty pavilions shuttered and barred against the
winter； but still inviting one to 'Try our salt water taffy〃 or to 〃Keep cool
with an ice…cream soda。〃 Rupert turned and looked inquiringly at Edgar。
To the north the beach stretched in an unbroken line to Manasquan Inlet。
To the south three miles away we could see floating on the horizon…like a
mirage the hotels and summer cottages of Bay Head。
〃Drive toward the inlet；〃 directed Edgar。 〃This gentleman and I will
walk。〃
Relieved of our weight； the horse stumbled bravely into the trackless
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sand； while below on the damper and firmer shingle we walked by the
edge of the water。
The tide was coming in and the spent wa
