my buried treasure-第3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！
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； 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 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 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 waves； spreading before them
an advance guard of tiny shells and pebbles； threatened our boots'
and at the same time in soothing； lazy whispers warned us of their
attack。 These lisping murmurs and the crash and roar of each
incoming wave as it broke were the only sounds。 And on the beach we
were the only human figures。 At last the scene began to bear some
resemblance to one set for an adventure。 The rolling ocean； a coast
steamer dragging a great column of black smoke； and cast high upon
the beach the wreck of a schooner； her masts tilting drunkenly；
gave color to our purpose。 It became filled with greater promise of
drama； more picturesque。 I began to thrill with excitement。 I
regarded Edgar appealingly； in eager supplication。 At last he broke
the silence that was torturing me。
〃We will now walk higher up；〃 he commanded。 〃If we get our feet
wet； we may take cold。〃
My spirit was too far broken to make reply。 But to my relief I saw
that in leaving the beach Edgar had some second purpose。 With each
heavy step he was drawing toward two high banks of sand in a hollow
behind which； protected by the banks； were three stunted；
wind…driven pines。 His words came back to me。
〃So many what…you…may…call…'ems。〃 Were these pines the three
somethings from something； the what…you…may…call…'ems？ The thought
chilled me to the spine。 I gazed at them fascinated。 I felt like
falling on my knees in the sand and tearing their secret from them
with my bare hands。 I was strong enough to dig them up by the
roots； strong enough to dig the Panama Canal！ I glanced tremulously
at Edgar。 His eyes were wide open and； eloquent with dismay； his
lower jaw had fallen。 He turned and looked at me for the first time
with consideration。 Apology and remorse were written in every line
of his countenance。
I'm sorry； he stammered。 I had a cruel premonition。 I exclaimed
with distress。
〃You have lost the map！〃 I hissed。
〃No； no；〃 protested Edgar； 〃but I entirely forgot to bring any
lunch！〃
With violent mutterings I tore off my upper and outer garments and
tossed them into the hack。
〃Where do I begin？〃 I asked。
Edgar pointed to a spot inside the triangle formed by the three
trees and equally distant from each。
〃Put that horse behind the bank；〃 I commanded； 〃where no one can
see him！ And both you and Rupert keep off the sky…line！〃 From the
north and south we were now all three hidden by the two high banks
of sand； to the east lay the beach and the Atlantic Ocean； and to
the west stretches of marshes that a mile away met a wood of pine
trees and the railroad round… house。
I began to dig。 I knew that weary hours lay before me； and I
attacked the sand leisurely and with deliberation。 It was at first
no great effort； but as the hole grew in depth； and the roots of
the trees were exposed； the work was sufficient for several men。
Still； as Edgar had said； it is not every day that one can dig for
treasure； and in thinking of what was to come I forgot my hands
that quickly blistered； and my breaking back。 After an hour I
insisted that Edgar should take a turn； but he made such poor
headway that my patience could not contain me； and I told him I was
sufficiently rested and would continue。 With alacrity he scrambled
out of the hole； and； taking a cigar from my case； seated himself
comfortably in the hack。 I took my comfort in anticipating the
thrill that would be mine when the spade would ring on the
ironbound chest； when； with a blow of the axe； I would expose to
view the hidden jewels； the pieces of eight； coated with verdigris；
the string of pearls； the chains of yellow gold。 Edgar had said a
million dollars。 That must mean there would be diamonds； many
diamonds。 I would hold them in my hands； watch them； at the sudden
sunshine； blink their eyes and burst into tiny； burning fires。 In
imagination I would replace them in the setting； from which； years
before； they had been stolen。 I would try to guess whence they came
from a jewelled chalice in some dim cathedral； from the breast of
a great lady； from the hilt of an admiral's sword。
After another hour I lifted my aching shoulders and； wiping the
sweat from my eyes； looked over the edge of the hole。 Rupert； with
his back to the sand…hill； was asleep。 Edgar with one hand was
waving away the mosquitoes an
