he came across. The boys lived in the town of Fairview, on the shores of Rainbow Lake, a large body of water, containing many islands, the largest of them being Pine. Bob and his two chums had many friends. They went to the same school, were in the same class, and were so often together that it was strange to see one of them out alone. They usually spent their Summer vacations together, and this was the first time, in some years, that there was a prospect of parting. But Bob believed he had gotten up a plan that would avoid this. It was this plan which was about to be put to the test on this last day of school. "Wait a minute; can't you, Sammy?" called Bob to his chum, who was hurrying toward Mrs. Bouncer. "Don't go so fast. My mother isn't going to run away." "I guess maybe he thinks someone else will get ahead of him, and find that pirate gold," suggested Frank. "It's queer your mother never told you about it." "Maybe it's a joke," said Bob. "Ma likes to have fun with us, once in a while." Sammy kept on until he stood in front of Bob's mother. Then he burst out with: "What's that you said about a pirate, Mrs. Bouncer? Is[Pg 18] there really one at Lighthouse Cove? If there is I'm going to have a hunt for his gold. Did he hide it in a cave, or bury it on the beach? And is there an old map of it, drawn in blood?" [Pg 18] Sammy Brown's eyes were shining with eagerness. "Oh, what a funny boy!" exclaimed Mrs. Bouncer, with a laugh. "I never expected you would take me up so quickly." "Why, is it a joke, ma?" asked Bob. "I don't know whether it is or not," Mrs. Bouncer replied, and she did not smile this time. "I really don't know why I mentioned it," she went on. "It slipped out before I knew it." "Then there is really pirate gold there; is there?" asked Bob. "Oh, as to that I can't say. You see, boys, it's this way. I did not intend to speak of it to you, Bob, until we got there, for I didn't want any excitement. But, since it slipped from me, I'll tell you all I know. "When I went
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