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My Buried Treasure
by Richard Harding Davis
This is a true story of a search for buried treasure。 The only
part that is not true is the name of the man with whom I searched
for the treasure。 Unless I keep his name out of it he will not let
me write the story； and； as it was his expedition and as my share
of the treasure is only what I can make by writing the story； I
must write as he dictates。 I think the story should be told；
because our experience was unique； and might be of benefit to
others。 And； besides； I need the money。
There is； however； no agreement preventing me from describing him
as I think he is； or reporting； as accurately as I can； what he
said and did as he said and did it。
For purposes of identification I shall call him Edgar Powell。 The
last name has no significance； but the first name is not chosen at
random。 The leader of our expedition； the head and brains of it；
was and is the sort of man one would address as Edgar。 No one would
think of calling him 〃Ed；〃 or 〃Eddie；〃 any more than he would
consider slapping him on the back。
We were together at college； but； as six hundred other boys were
there at the same time； that gives no clew to his identity。 Since
those days； until he came to see me about the treasure； we had not
met。 All I knew of him was that he had succeeded his father in
manufacturing unshrinkable flannels。 Of course； the reader
understands that is not the article of commerce he manufactures；
but it is near enough； and it suggests the line of business to
which he gives his life's blood。 It is not similar to my own line
of work； and in consequence； when he wrote me； on the unshrinkable
flannels official writing…paper； that he wished to see me in
reference to a matter of business of 〃mutual benefit；〃 I was
considerably puzzled。
A few days later； at nine in the morning； an hour of his own
choosing； he came to my rooms in New York City。
Except that he had grown a beard； he was as I remembered him； thin
and tall； but with no chest； and stooping shoulders。 He wore
eye…glasses； and as of old through these he regarded you
disapprovingly and warily as though he suspected you might try to
borrow money； or even joke with him。 As with Edgar I had never felt
any temptation to do either； this was irritating。
But from force of former habit we greeted each other by our first
names； and he suspiciously accepted a cigar。 Then； after fixing me
both with his eyes and with his eye…glasses and swearing me to
secrecy； he began abruptly。
〃Our mills；〃 he said； 〃are in New Bedford； and I own several small
cottages there and in Fairhaven。 I rent them out at a moderate
rate。 The other day one of my tenants； a Portuguese sailor； was
taken suddenly ill and sent for me。 He had made many voyages in and
out of Bedford to the South Seas； whaling； and he told me on his
last voyage he had touched at his former home at Teneriffe。 There
his grandfather had given him a document that had been left him by
his father。 His grandfather said it contained an important secret；
but one that was of value only in America； and that when he
returned to that continent he must be very careful to whom he
showed it。 He told me it was written in a kind of English he could
not understand； and that he had been afraid to let any one see it。
He wanted me to accept the document in payment of the rent he owed
me； with the understanding that I was not to look at it； and that
if he got well I was to give it back。 If he pulled through； he was
to pay me in some other way； but if he died I was to keep the
document。 About a month ago he died； and I examined the paper。 It
purports to tell where there is buried a pirate's treasure。 And；〃
added Edgar； gazing at me severely and as though he challenged me
to contradict him； I intend to dig for it！〃
Had he told me he contemplated crossing the Rocky Mountains in a
Baby Wright； or leading a cotillon； I could not have been more
astonished。 I am afraid I laughed aloud。
〃You！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Search for buried treasure？〃
My tone visibly annoyed him。 Even the eye…glasses radiated
disapproval。
〃I see nothing amusing in the idea；〃 Edgar protested coldly。 〃It is
a plain business proposition。 I find the outlay will be small； and
if I am successful the returns should be large； at a rough estimate
about one million dollars。〃
Even to…day； no true American； at the thought of one million
dollars； can remain covered。 His letter to me had said； 〃for our
mutual benefit。〃 I became respectful and polite； I might even say
abject。 After all； the ties that bind us in those dear old college
days are not lightly to be disregarded。
〃If I can be of any service to you； Edgar； old man；〃 I assured him
heartily； 〃if I can help you find it； you know I shall be only too
happy。〃 With regret I observed that my generous offer did not seem
to deeply move him。
〃I came to you in this matter；〃 he continued stiffly； 〃because you
seemed to be the sort of person who would be interested in a search
for buried treasure。〃
〃I am；〃 I exclaimed。 〃Always have been。〃
〃Have you；〃 he demanded searchingly； 〃any practical experience？〃
I tried to appear at ease； but I knew then just how the man who
applies to look after your furnace feels； when you ask him if he
can also run a sixty horse…power dynamo。
〃I have never actually FOUND any buried treasure；〃 I admitted； 〃but
I know where lots of it is； and I know just how to go after it。〃 I
endeavored to dazzle him with expert knowledge。
〃Of course；〃 I went on airily； 〃I am familiar with all the
expeditions that have tried for the one on Cocos Island； and I know
all about the Peruvian treasure on Trinidad； and the lost treasures
of Jalisco near Guadalajara； and the sunken galleon on the Grand
Cayman； and when I was on the Isle of Pines I had several very
tempting offers to search there。 And the late Captain Boynton
invited me〃
〃But；〃 interrupted Edgar in a tone that would tolerate no trifling；
〃you yourself have never financed or organized an expedition with
the object in view of〃
〃Oh； that part's easy！〃 I assured him。 〃The fitting…out part you
can safely leave to me。〃 I assumed a confidence that I hoped he
might believe was real。 〃There's always a tramp steamer in the Erie
Basin；〃 I said； 〃that one can charter for any kind of adventure；
and I have the addresses of enough soldiers of fortune；
filibusters； and professional revolutionists to man a battle…ship；
all fine fellows in a tight corner。 And I'll promise you they'll
follow us to hell； and back〃
〃That！〃 exclaimed Edgar； 〃is exactly what I feared！ 〃
〃I beg your pardon！〃 I exclaimed。
〃That's exactly what I DON'T want；〃 said Edgar sternly。 〃I don't
INTEND to get into any tight corners。 I don't WANT to go to hell！〃
I saw that in my enthusiasm I had perhaps alarmed him。 I continued
more temperately。
〃Any expedition after treasure；〃 I pointed out； 〃is never without
risk。 You must have discipline； and you must have picked men。
Suppose there's a mutiny？ Suppose they try to rob us of the
treasure on our way home？ We must have men we can rely on； and men
who know how to pump a Winchester。 I can get you both。 And
Bannerman will furnish me with anything from a pair of leggins to
a quick firing gun； and on Clark Street they'll quote me a special
rate on ship stores； hydraulic pumps； divers' helmets〃
Edgar's eye…glasses became frosted with cold； condemnatory scorn。
He shook his head disgustedly。
〃I was afraid of this！〃 he murmured。
I endeavored to reassure him。
〃A little danger；〃 I laughed； 〃only adds to the fun。〃
〃I want you to understand；〃 exclaimed Edgar indignantly； 〃there
isn't going to be any danger。 There isn't going to be any fun。 This
is a plain business proposition。 I asked you those questions just
to test you。 And you approached the matter exactly as I feared you
would。 I was prepared for it。 In fact；〃 he explained shamefacedly；
〃I've read several of your little stories； and I find they run to
adventure and blood and thunder； they are not of the analytical
school of fiction。 Judging from them；〃 he added accusingly； 〃you
have a tendency to the romantic。〃 He spoke reluctantly as though
saying I had a tendency to epileptic fits or the morphine habit。
〃I am afraid；〃 I was forced to admit； 〃that to me pirates and
buried treasure always suggest adventure。 And your criticism of my
writings is well observed。 Others have discovered the same fatal
weakness。 We cannot all；〃 I pointed out； 〃manufacture unshrinkable
flannels。〃
At this compliment to his more fortunate condition； Edgar seemed to
soften。
〃I grant you；〃 he said； 〃that the subject has almost invariably
been approached from the point of view you take。 And what；〃 he
demanded triumphantly； 〃has been the result？ Failure； or at least；
before success was attained； a most unnecessary and regrettable
loss of blood and life。 Now； on my expedition； I do not intend that
any blood shall be shed； or that anybody shall lose his life。 I
have not entered into this matter hastily。 I have taken out
information； and mean to benefit by other people's mistakes。 When
I decided to go on with this；〃 he explained； 〃I read all the boo