while, but they never found anything more, so gradually they left off and forgot it."

[Pg 62]

Doris was visibly stirred by this curious story. After all, why should it not be so? Why, perhaps could not they be on the right track of the buried treasure of pirate legend? The more she thought it over, the more possible it became. And the fascination of such a possibility held her spellbound.

"Yes," she agreed, "I do believe you're right, Sally. And now that I look it over,[Pg 63] these letters and numbers might easily be the key to it all, if we can only work it out. Oh, I never heard of anything so wonderful happening to two girls like ourselves before! Thank you, a million times, Sally, for sharing this perfectly marvelous secret with me."

[Pg 63]

"I do believe I'm enjoying it a great deal better myself, now that I've told you," answered Sally. "I didn't think it could be so before I did. And if we ever discover what it all means—"

"Why, precious!" interrupted Doris, turning to Genevieve, who all unnoticed had come to lean disconsolately against the side of the boat, her thumb tucked pathetically in her mouth, her eyes half tearful. "What's the matter?"

"I'm hung'y and s'eepy!" moaned Genevieve. With a guilty start, Doris gazed at her wrist watch. It was nearly one o'clock.

"Merciful goodness! Mother will be frantic!" she exclaimed. "It's lunch-time now, and we're way up here. And just see the way I look!" She was indeed a scratched, grimy[Pg 64] and tattered object. "Whatever will I tell her?" They scrambled to their oars and were out in the river before Sally answered this question.

[Pg 64]

"Can't you tell her you were exploring up on Slipper Point?"

"Yes," agreed Doris. "That is the real truth. And she never minds if I get mussed and dirty, as long as I've enjoyed myself in some way that's all right. But I hope I haven't worried her by being so late."

They rowed on in mad, breathless haste, passed the wagon-bridge, and came at last in sight of the hotel. But as they beached the boat, and Doris scrambled out, she said in parting:

"I've been thinking, all the way down, about that secret map, or whatever it is, and I have a new idea about 

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