Willie had taken one snub from Tom and he was determined that should
be the last.
"You're a calf," was his polite reply to Tom as he vaulted over the
fence. "Who's goin' to foller me?"
They all followed, even Tom Parker. They advanced cautiously. Willie's
temerity was moderating and he waited for the rest to come up with
him. They advanced in a semicircle. As the wavering line was within
ten yards of the box that object seemed to lift itself from the ground
and a deep groan arose as from the bowels of the earth. Oh what a
fright was that--my Faithful Banders! In a moment the fence seemed
alive with terrified and struggling boys. Mr. Murphy crawled out of
his cramped quarters and went home.
The boys had, of course, been properly sworn to secrecy, but somehow,
the next day an uneasy feeling pervaded the village. No one seemed to
possess any definite information, but there were rumors to the effect
that there were peculiar folks now in the neighborhood; people weren't
really safe and Mrs. White could tell a good deal if she would. That
lady had exercised a good deal of prudence and had said very little
about the Boulbys, but the day after the boys' adventure she was
credited with volumes.
It was not long before the strong minded mother of a member of the
Faithful Band had obtained from him enough to warrant her sending to
all the matrons of the village a pressing invitation to tea that
afternoon. It was a formidable group that foregathered that afternoon.
The discoveries and adventures of the Band were duly narrated and
embellished.
Out of the chaos of frightful tales that flourished exceedingly and
waxed more and more fearful, one could have deduced the fact that the
Boulbys were nothing more or less than modern Blue-Beards.
Well, their families had to be protected, and if they told the men all
they knew it would be all over the country in no time, and for some
reason they didn't think that would be well. As far as they could see
the best thing to be done was for them to investigate for themselves
that very night.
And so it was that for the third time the Boulbys were to undergo a
night attack.
Miss Katherine was not the sort of woman to be caught sleeping. She
had been unable to continue the excavation, owing to a slight attack
of rheumatism. She felt uneasy about so vast a treasure lying
unguarded and begged Joseph to make himself some sort of shelter in
the garden and keep watch during the night.
"You wouldn't have to keep awake all the time," she said, "you'd hear
any noise in your sleep and it would do you good to sleep out in the
fresh air."
But Joseph was not a fresh air enthusiast, and the very idea of
sleeping in the garden gave him rheumatic twinges. However, Miss
Katherine was not to be balked. She took the faithful old dog Bruno by
the collar and led him to the garden where she pointed out the box and
explained his duty to him. Bruno understood and consented.
"A woman has always one she can depend on, if she has a dog," Miss
Katherine cuttingly remarked as she re-entered the house.
Just a word about Mr. Murphy before we proceed with the night attack.
He had been very busy all day, walking about the village, chatting
with the boys and gossiping with the women. There might have been
method in his gossip, as he seemed to elicit just what he desired.
Towards evening he took a walk along the shore and held communion with
himself.
"I don't think she'd call it chivalrous to scare them. But she'd rate
it pretty high if I kept watch to come to the rescue of the besieged
or the besiegers, whichever needs help."
As Mr. Murphy has reached this satisfactory conclusion we will leave
him and return to follow the female posse across the fields to the
Boulbys' garden.
When the group of trembling females had reached the garden fence they
beheld the confirmation of the boy's story.
There was a whispered discussion of the advisability of further
investigation. The pros won and the means to this end now stared them
in the face.
The picket fence had presented no difficulties to the boys but it was
a great obstacle to their mothers. To climb it was impossible. The
only other way was to make a breach wide enough to admit a portly
form. One picket was gone and they began loosening several on each
side of the opening. It was difficult to do this and prevent the
loosening nails from screeching. The process was a very slow one as
such care had to be exercised.
Meanwhile Bruno was quite cognizant of their presence and with
bristling hair and bared teeth was crouching for an attack when
further provocation should be given.
The Boulbys had retired early, as neither was feeling very well, but
towards midnight Miss Katherine awoke and began to think of poor old
Bruno. She thought she would get up and peek out to see if he were all
right.
The trespassers were making sure but slow progress and were still
hanging on the pickets with their whole weight as Miss Katherine
looked out of the window. She was not at all alarmed. She understood
her own sex, her faithful dog and her own resources.
The heaviest of the group had now been pressed into service as weights
on the loosening pickets which suddenly surrendered with a frightful
wrenching sound. Simultaneously with this noise there arose from the
box a savage growl and a great, black beast threw himself into the air
like an imprisoned spirit released from Hades. From the window had
come a sharp report and from the opposite fence a yell that must have
been emitted from a savage throat.
At the too sudden surrender of the pickets four heavy females were
precipitated against their companions and the whole posse fell in an
inextricable mass upon the ground.
Miss Katherine let the burst paper bag flutter to the ground as she
hung upon the window curtain, helpless with laughter.
Mr. Murphy scudded away from behind the fence ejaculating,
"Bully for her! She doesn't need a protector. It's no wonder she's set
her heart on a romantic man."
When morning came and they could speak more calmly concerning their
bruises the same females were again met in conclave.
Some were for placing the matter in the hands of the constable, but
this did not meet with unanimous approval.
"Poor old constable Wilson couldn't get up enough courage to go
there," said one.
"It would be a shame to ask him," said another. "Everybody knows he
isn't expected to look after anything dangerous. Such a thing as this
was never heard of before in this neighborhood, so they just put in
old man Wilson for he could keep the boys out of the orchards and
'tend pound and that's about all there is to do in this neighborhood.
Now isn't there somebody that could handle them Boulbys?"
"I've got a plan," began an earnest faced matron. "I think Mr.
Horton's the man to see to this. If he can't exhort the evil spirit
to come out of them Boulbys, nobody can. And he ain't afraid of
anything either. It's his duty, too, to look after things like this,
for we all know that the Evil One has taken control of the Boulbys,
body and soul. But we won't have to do any urging to get Mr. Horton to
do his duty. Just last Sunday he said in his sermon that the scent of
the battle and the battle cry was like perfume to his nostrils and
music in his ears, when he could wage war upon the forces of evil."
"That's a good plan," agreed a sister in the church. "You're right in
saying he ain't afraid of anything. His sermon last Sunday was a
splendid one. I thought he'd break the old pulpit to pieces, he was
that earnest. He preached about Gideon and Gideon always makes a good
subject. Do you remember that he said that when he felt he was armed
with the sword of the Lord and of Gideon he could face ten thousand
foes?"
It was agreed that this fearless spirit would be undaunted by this
task and a committee was appointed to place the matter before him.
Mr. Horton was a man, who, had he been of another religious
persuasion, would have made one of Alva's fiercest bloodhounds. He was
untiring in his zeal for the cause he espoused. He knew not mercy and
he gave no quarter in the battle. And so he listened with hardening
face to the tale poured forth by the suffering females, the most
faithful of his flock. No need to urge him forward on the path of
duty. He gave his word that he would go forth without delay to wrestle
with the evil spirit that possessed these unfortunate people.
And thus it was that Joseph caught sight of the ministerial form
stalking up the walk just as his sister was concluding a recital of
the events of the night before.
"The minister's coming," he warned Miss Katherine. "Don't let him hear
you laughing about scaring those women--likely it's that he's coming
about."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed his sister. "I'd pretty soon tell him to mind
his own business."
Grim and undaunted Mr. Horton stood upon the verandah, awaiting
admittance. Not even the pleasant, welcoming smile upon Joseph's mild
and open countenance softened his austerity.
"A wolf in sheep's clothing, no doubt," he said to himself.
It was well that he had steeled his heart, for Miss Katherine was at
her pleasantest this morning, and she was very charming in that mood.
But even she could not soften that heart of adamant.
When he had seated himself he calmly began a searching scrutiny of the
two faces before him. Perhaps he was a student of natural history and
had learned that this was one way of taming wild animals, and as he
had come to cage the roaring lion that walked up and down the world
seeking whom he could devour, it would be well to follow approved
methods.
Mr. Horton was not a man to hesitate when his duty lay plain before
him, so he informed the brother and sister that he had come to inquire
after the welfare of their souls and to save them if they felt
themselves lost and guilty sinners condemned to a fearful punishment.
Under this attack Joseph was more nettled than his sister. Miss
Katherine told herself that he must be a religious fanatic and as they
hadn't yet attended church in Ocean View, he believed them to be
godless people.
"I have every sympathy with religious enthusiasm," she gently informed
Mr. Horton, "but, of course, I don't feel as strongly on the subject
as you do."
This remark confirmed his wolf theory and he began to fear that he had
to deal with the wiliest of Satan's lieutenants. He thought he had
better strengthen himself by a word of prayer so informed them that
they must kneel with him.
Joseph's face grew dark, but Miss Katherine imperatively motioned to
him to be silent and passive. Mr. Horton implored aid in the task he
had undertaken and begged that he might be the instrument to bring
these poor, lost, guilty souls to repentance. Under shelter of this
storm of words Miss Katherine whispered to her brother that he must
control himself and must not be violent.
When they rose from their knees, Mr. Horton was breathless, so Miss
Katherine had him at her mercy. She politely asked him to excuse her
brother as he was not feeling well, at which Joseph gratefully
withdrew.
"A guilty soul is a terrible thing, Miss Boulby," said Mr. Horton
mopping his forehead.
"Yes, I suppose it must be," she returned calmly, "but what is even
worse is to have a mind that is constantly imagining evil in others.
Now, Mr. Horton, the ladies of your church have quite ignored us since
we came, but I should be very much pleased if Mrs. Horton and some of
the prominent ladies in the church would call and we can discuss what
I can do and where I can fit in in church work."
Mr. Horton fairly shone with triumph. Here was a repentant sinner.
"There is joy among--" he began but that was too much for Miss
Katherine.
* * * * *
About this time Mr. Murphy was giving the pebbles on the shore the
benefit of one of his frequent monologues: "I've seen them taken with
it before," he informed himself, "but never so bad as she's got it.
Treasure hunting is like yellow fever. You've got to let it burn
itself up. I should think her treasure hunting fever would be about
cured, but you never can tell with a woman. Perhaps she's onto a new
place by this time. I hope she won't go tearing the place down to see
if there's a secret chamber anywhere. I like her to enjoy herself, but
she's apt to get into trouble with Skinner if she destroys much
property. I'll have to think up some way of satisfying her or she'll
land in the penitentiary.
"I wonder if she's found any more qualities in the old Cap's picture?
I think the picture's got all the strength when she's around, for darn
me if I ain't as weak as water when she goes talking about him being
the kind of man she admires! For I know that there's just so many
qualities that I'll begin to dig up out of me or to plant in me. But
she might come to the end of the choicest characteristics soon and
give a feller time to cultivate a few."
The Captain tugged at a large volume in his pocket. He succeeded in
tearing it out. The place where he had been reading was marked by a
slip of paper upon which was a long list of books written in a
feminine hand. The name of the volume Mr. Murphy was reading was the
twenty-first on the slip and was 'Treasure Island.'
"If I'd ever had a villain like that Silver around me I'd 've strung
him up. Such dilly-dallying around makes me sick," commented the
reader.
"Why, Mr. Murphy, do you talk to yourself or are you reading aloud?
Your expression is wonderful if you were reading," said the pleasant
voice of Miss Boulby who had quite innocently chosen for her afternoon
walk Mr. Murphy's usual direction.
That gentleman jumped to his feet in great trepidation. What had he
been saying?
"Oh--why--I believe I was reading aloud. I get so interested in those
books you were telling me about--the ones the Captain read so much,
you know, that I read aloud before I think."
Miss Katherine seated herself and motioned to Mr. Murphy to do the
same. She picked up the book which had fallen in the reader's
surprise.
"Treasure Island! That is a most delightful book. I am so glad you
enjoy it. I do think that a man who can, as it were, live these
adventures with Stevenson's characters is as delightful and
interesting a person as,--as even old John Silver himself," said Miss
Katherine with enthusiasm.
"A-hem," Mr. Murphy cleared his throat and rubbed his chin. "Do you
like John Silver?"
"I think he's just fascinating, don't you?" returned Miss Katherine.
"Exactly, Miss Boulby. Fascinating's the word I was hunting for just
before you came up. But it's the subject of the book itself that
fetches me. I was always after hidden treasure, Captain Kidd's and so
on. I don't suppose you were ever taken that way?"
Miss Katherine looked at her questioner out of the corner of her eye,
but he was gazing abstractedly over the water.
"Well, yes, I must confess that I have been rather interested in
hidden treasures. But, of course, I have never done any actual hunting
as I have never had any clues. But I should think it would be very
interesting. Did you mean that you have actually sought a specific
treasure?"
"Not exactly that," explained Mr. Murphy, "at least not till I came
here."
Miss Katherine's eyes grew wide.
"I haven't done any real diggin' here yet," he went on, "but I hope to
begin soon. Now I don't mind telling you for I'd like a partner, one
who thinks as I do about it, you understand. It isn't for the love of
the money, you know, but the romance, that's it, the romance. Now you
know all about Captain Kidd?"
Miss Katherine nodded.
"Well, I've figured it out pretty well, and it's my opinion that some
of his hoard lies right along this shore and not very far from here."
Mr. Murphy's imagination was pretty well exhausted so he stopped to
recuperate.
"Along this shore and not far from here!" exclaimed Miss Katherine.
"Dear me! Who'd have thought it? But have you any maps or plans or
charts or whatever tells you where to look?"
Mr. Murphy's imagination had taken a new lease on life.
"I've got them hidden carefully in my rooms," he explained. "I have
been comparing them with the physiognomy of the shore here and I
believe with a little help on the subject which you can supply I would
be able to identify the spot to-morrow."
"I should love to help you," exclaimed Miss Katherine. "It's so very
kind of you."
"Oh, no, no!" returned Mr. Murphy. "It's only just now since you told
me that you were interested in treasure seeking that I have really
enjoyed thinking about it."
"You said you had always been interested in hidden treasures," Miss
Katherine reminded him.
Mr. Murphy's face grew red. He hastened to explain:
"I mean that the books that I've been reading under your direction
have been so interesting that I couldn't bear to stop reading and look
for the treasure."
Miss Katherine beamed.
"We will search together," she said coyly.