my buried treasure-第2节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


I　decided　to　go　on　with　this；〃　he　explained；　〃I　read　all　the　books
that　bear　on　searches　for　buried　treasure；　and　I　found　that　in　each
case　the　same　mistakes　were　made；　and　that　then；　in　order　to　remedy
the　mistakes；　it　was　invariably　necessary　to　kill　somebody。　Now；　by
not　making　those　mistakes；　it　will　not　be　necessary　for　me　to　kill
any　one；　and　nobody　is　going　to　have　a　chance　to　kill　me。

〃You　propose　that　we　fit　out　a　schooner　and　sign　on　a　crew。　What
will　happen？　A　man　with　a　sabre　cut　across　his　forehead；　or　with　a
black　patch　over　one　eye；　will　inevitably　be　one　of　that　crew。　And；
as　soon　as　we　sail；　he　will　at　once　begin　to　plot　against　us。　A
cabin　boy　who　the　conspirators　think　is　asleep　in　his　bunk　will
overhear　their　plot　and　will　run　to　the　quarter…deck　to　give
warning；　but　a　pistol　shot　rings　out；　and　the　cabin　boy　falls　at
the　foot　of　the　companion　ladder。　The　cabin　boy　is　always　the　first
one　to　go。　After　that　the　mutineers　kill　the　first　mate；　and　lock
us　in　our　cabin；　and　take　over　the　ship。　They　will　then　broach　a
cask　of　rum；　and　all　through　the　night　we　will　listen　to　their
drunken　howlings；　and　from　the　cabin　airport　watch　the　body　of　the
first　mate　rolling　in　the　lee　scuppers。〃

〃But　you　forget；〃　I　protested　eagerly；　〃there　is　always　ONE
faithful　member　of　the　crew；　who〃

Edgar　interrupted　me　impatiently。

〃I　have　not　overlooked　him；〃　he　said。　〃He　is　a　Jamaica　negro　of
gigantic　proportions；　or　the　ship's　cook；　but　he　always　gets　his
too；　and　he　gets　it　good。　They　throw　HIM　to　the　sharks！　Then　we　all
camp　out　on　a　desert　island　inhabited　only　by　goats；　and　we　build
a　stockade；　and　the　mutineers　come　to　treat　with　us　under　a　white
flag；　and　we；　trusting　entirely　to　their　honor；　are　fools　enough　to
go　out　and　talk　with　them。　At　which　they　shoot　us　up；　and　withdraw
laughing　scornfully。〃　Edgar　fixed　his　eye…glasses　upon　me
accusingly。

〃Am　I　right；　or　am　I　wrong？〃　he　demanded。　I　was　unable　to　answer。
〃The　only　man；〃　continued　Edgar　warmly　who　ever　showed　the
slightest　intelligence　in　the　matter　was　the　fellow　in　the　'Gold
Bug。　HE　kept　his　mouth　shut。　He　never　let　any　one　know　that　he　was
after　buried　treasure；　until　he　found　it。　That's　me！　Now　I　know
EXACTLY　where　this　treasure　is；　and〃

I　suppose；　involuntarily；　I　must　have　given　a　start　of　interest；
for　Edgar　paused　and　shook　his　head；　slyly　and　cunningly。　〃And　if
you　think　I　have　the　map　on　my　person　now；〃　he　declared　in　triumph；
〃you'll　have　to　guess　again！〃

〃Really；〃　I　protested；　〃I　had　no　intention〃

〃Not　you；　perhaps；〃　said　Edgar　grudgingly；　〃but　your　Japanese　valet
conceals　himself　behind　those　curtains；　follows　me　home；　and　at
night〃

〃I　haven't　got　a　valet；〃　I　objected。

Edgar　merely　smiled　with　the　most　aggravating　self…　sufficiency。
〃It　makes　no　difference；〃　he　declared。　〃NO　ONE　will　ever　find　that
map；　or　see　that　map；　or　know　where　that　treasure　is；　until　I　point
to　the　spot。〃

〃Your　caution　is　admirable；〃　I　said；　〃but　what；〃　I　jeered；　〃makes
you　think　you　can　point　to　the　spot；　because　your　map　says
something　like；　'Through　the　Sunken　Valley　to　Witch's　Caldron；　four
points　N。　by　N。　E。　to　Gallows　Hill　where　the　shadow　falls　at
sunrise；　fifty　fathoms　west；　fifty　paces　north　as　the　crow　flies；
to　the　Seven　Wells'？　How　the　deuce；〃　I　demanded；　〃is　any　one　going
to　point　to　that　spot？〃

〃It　isn't　that　kind　of　map；〃　shouted　Edgar　triumphantly。　〃　If　it
had　been；　I　wouldn't　have　gone　on　with　it。　It's　a　map　anybody　can
read　except　a　half…caste　Portuguese　sailor。　It's　as　plain　as　a
laundry　bill。　It　says；〃　he　paused　apprehensively；　and　then
continued　with　caution；　〃it　says　at　such　and　such　a　place　there　is
a　something。　So　many　somethings　from　that　something　are　three
what…you…may…call…　'ems；　and　in　the　centre　of　these　three
what…you…may…call…'ems　is　buried　the　treasure。　It's　as　plain　as
that！〃

〃Even　with　the　few　details　you　have　let　escape　you；〃　I　said；　〃I
could　find　THAT　spot　in　my　sleep。〃

〃I　don't　think　you　could；〃　said　Edgar　uncomfortably；　but　I　could
see　that　he　had　mentally　warned　himself　to　be　less　communicative。
〃And；〃　he　went　on；　〃I　am　willing　to　lead　you　to　it；　if　you
subscribe　to　certain　conditions。〃

Edgar's　insulting　caution　had　ruffled　my　spirit。

　〃Why　do　you　think　you　can　trust　ME？〃　I　asked　haughtily。　And　then；
remembering　my　share　of　the　million　dollars；　I　added　in　haste；　〃I
accept　the　conditions。〃

〃Of　course；　as　you　say；　one　has　got　to　take　SOME　risk；〃　Edgar
continued；　〃but　I　feel　sure；〃　he　said；　regarding　me　doubtfully；
〃you　would　not　stoop　to　open　robbery。〃　I　thanked　him。

〃Well；　until　one　is　tempted；〃　said　Edgar；　〃one　never　knows　WHAT　he
might　do。　And　I've　simply　GOT　to　have　one　other　man；　and　I　picked
on　you　because　I　thought　you　could　write　about　it。〃

〃I　see；〃　I　said；　〃I　am　to　act　as　the　historian　of　the　expedition。〃

〃That　will　be　arranged　later；〃　said　Edgar。　〃What　I　chiefly　want　you
for　is　to　dig。　Can　you　dig？〃　he　asked　eagerly。　I　told　him　I　could；
but　that　I　would　rather　do　almost　anything　else。

〃I　MUST　have　one　other　man；〃　repeated　Edgar；　〃a　man　who　is　strong
enough　to　dig；　and　strong　enough　to　resist　the　temptation　to　murder
me。〃　The　retort　was　so　easy　that　I　let　it　pass。　Besides；　on　Edgar；
it　would　have　been　wasted。

〃I　THINK　you　will　do；〃　he　said　with　reluctance。　〃And　now　the
conditions！〃

I　smiled　agreeably。

〃You　are　already　sworn　to　secrecy；〃　said　Edgar。　〃And　you　now　agree
in　every　detail　to　obey　me　implicitly；　and　to　accompany　me　to　a
certain　place；　where　you　will　dig。　If　I　find　the　treasure；　you
agree；　to　help　me　guard　it；　and　convey　it　to　wherever　I　decide　it
is　safe　to　leave　it。　Your　responsibility　is　then　at　an　end。　One
year　after　the　treasure　is　discovered；　you　will　be　free　to　write
the　account　of　the　expedition。　For　what　you　write；　some　magazine
may　pay　you。　What　it　pays　you　will　be　your　share　of　the　treasure。〃

Of　my　part　of　the　million　dollars；　which　I　had　hastily　calculated
could　not　be　less　than　one…fifth；　I　had　already　spent　over　one
hundred　thousand　dollars　and　was　living　far　beyond　my　means。　I　had
bought　a　farm　with　a　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　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　pajama