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I decided to go on with this；〃 he explained； 〃I read all the books
that bear on searches for buried treasure； and I found that in each
case the same mistakes were made； and that then； in order to remedy
the mistakes； it was invariably necessary to kill somebody。 Now； by
not making those mistakes； it will not be necessary for me to kill
any one； and nobody is going to have a chance to kill me。
〃You propose that we fit out a schooner and sign on a crew。 What
will happen？ A man with a sabre cut across his forehead； or with a
black patch over one eye； will inevitably be one of that crew。 And；
as soon as we sail； he will at once begin to plot against us。 A
cabin boy who the conspirators think is asleep in his bunk will
overhear their plot and will run to the quarter…deck to give
warning； but a pistol shot rings out； and the cabin boy falls at
the foot of the companion ladder。 The cabin boy is always the first
one to go。 After that the mutineers kill the first mate； and lock
us in our cabin； and take over the ship。 They will then broach a
cask of rum； and all through the night we will listen to their
drunken howlings； and from the cabin airport watch the body of the
first mate rolling in the lee scuppers。〃
〃But you forget；〃 I protested eagerly； 〃there is always ONE
faithful member of the crew； who〃
Edgar interrupted me impatiently。
〃I have not overlooked him；〃 he said。 〃He is a Jamaica negro of
gigantic proportions； or the ship's cook； but he always gets his
too； and he gets it good。 They throw HIM to the sharks！ Then we all
camp out on a desert island inhabited only by goats； and we build
a stockade； and the mutineers come to treat with us under a white
flag； and we； trusting entirely to their honor； are fools enough to
go out and talk with them。 At which they shoot us up； and withdraw
laughing scornfully。〃 Edgar fixed his eye…glasses upon me
accusingly。
〃Am I right； or am I wrong？〃 he demanded。 I was unable to answer。
〃The only man；〃 continued Edgar warmly who ever showed the
slightest intelligence in the matter was the fellow in the 'Gold
Bug。 HE kept his mouth shut。 He never let any one know that he was
after buried treasure； until he found it。 That's me！ Now I know
EXACTLY where this treasure is； and〃
I suppose； involuntarily； I must have given a start of interest；
for Edgar paused and shook his head； slyly and cunningly。 〃And if
you think I have the map on my person now；〃 he declared in triumph；
〃you'll have to guess again！〃
〃Really；〃 I protested； 〃I had no intention〃
〃Not you； perhaps；〃 said Edgar grudgingly； 〃but your Japanese valet
conceals himself behind those curtains； follows me home； and at
night〃
〃I haven't got a valet；〃 I objected。
Edgar merely smiled with the most aggravating self… sufficiency。
〃It makes no difference；〃 he declared。 〃NO ONE will ever find that
map； or see that map； or know where that treasure is； until I point
to the spot。〃
〃Your caution is admirable；〃 I said； 〃but what；〃 I jeered； 〃makes
you think you can point to the spot； because your map says
something like； 'Through the Sunken Valley to Witch's Caldron； four
points N。 by N。 E。 to Gallows Hill where the shadow falls at
sunrise； fifty fathoms west； fifty paces north as the crow flies；
to the Seven Wells'？ How the deuce；〃 I demanded； 〃is any one going
to point to that spot？〃
〃It isn't that kind of map；〃 shouted Edgar triumphantly。 〃 If it
had been； I wouldn't have gone on with it。 It's a map anybody can
read except a half…caste Portuguese sailor。 It's as plain as a
laundry bill。 It says；〃 he paused apprehensively； and then
continued with caution； 〃it says at such and such a place there is
a something。 So many somethings from that something are three
what…you…may…call… 'ems； and in the centre of these three
what…you…may…call…'ems is buried the treasure。 It's as plain as
that！〃
〃Even with the few details you have let escape you；〃 I said； 〃I
could find THAT spot in my sleep。〃
〃I don't think you could；〃 said Edgar uncomfortably； but I could
see that he had mentally warned himself to be less communicative。
〃And；〃 he went on； 〃I am willing to lead you to it； if you
subscribe to certain conditions。〃
Edgar's insulting caution had ruffled my spirit。
〃Why do you think you can trust ME？〃 I asked haughtily。 And then；
remembering my share of the million dollars； I added in haste； 〃I
accept the conditions。〃
〃Of course； as you say； one has got to take SOME risk；〃 Edgar
continued； 〃but I feel sure；〃 he said； regarding me doubtfully；
〃you would not stoop to open robbery。〃 I thanked him。
〃Well； until one is tempted；〃 said Edgar； 〃one never knows WHAT he
might do。 And I've simply GOT to have one other man； and I picked
on you because I thought you could write about it。〃
〃I see；〃 I said； 〃I am to act as the historian of the expedition。〃
〃That will be arranged later；〃 said Edgar。 〃What I chiefly want you
for is to dig。 Can you dig？〃 he asked eagerly。 I told him I could；
but that I would rather do almost anything else。
〃I MUST have one other man；〃 repeated Edgar； 〃a man who is strong
enough to dig； and strong enough to resist the temptation to murder
me。〃 The retort was so easy that I let it pass。 Besides； on Edgar；
it would have been wasted。
〃I THINK you will do；〃 he said with reluctance。 〃And now the
conditions！〃
I smiled agreeably。
〃You are already sworn to secrecy；〃 said Edgar。 〃And you now agree
in every detail to obey me implicitly； and to accompany me to a
certain place； where you will dig。 If I find the treasure； you
agree； to help me guard it； and convey it to wherever I decide it
is safe to leave it。 Your responsibility is then at an end。 One
year after the treasure is discovered； you will be free to write
the account of the expedition。 For what you write； some magazine
may pay you。 What it pays you will be your share of the treasure。〃
Of my part of the million dollars； which I had hastily calculated
could not be less than one…fifth； I had already spent over one
hundred thousand dollars and was living far beyond my means。 I had
bought a farm with a waterfront on the Sound； a motor…boat； and； as
I was not sure which make I preferred； three automobiles。 I had at
my own； expense produced a play of mine that no manager had
appreciated； and its name in electric lights was already blinding
Broadway。 I had purchased a Hollander express rifle； a REAL amber
cigar holder； a private secretary who could play both rag…time and
tennis； and a fur coat。 So Edgar's generous offer left me naked。
When I had again accustomed myself to the narrow confines of my
flat； and the jolt of the surface cars； I asked humbly：
〃Is that ALL I get？〃
〃Why should you expect any more？〃 demanded Edgar。 〃It isn't YOUR
treasure。 You wouldn't expect me to make you a present of an
interest in my mills； why should you get a share of my treasure？〃
He gazed at me reproachfully。 〃I thought you'd be pleased；〃 he
said。 〃 It must be hard to think of things to write about； and I'm
giving you a subject for nothing。 I thought；〃 he remonstrated；
〃you'd jump at the chance。 It isn't every day a man can dig for
buried treasure。〃
〃That's all right；〃 I said。 〃Perhaps I appreciate that quite as
well as you do。 But my time has a certain small value； and I can't
leave my work just for excitement。 We may be weeks； months How
long do you think we〃
Behind his eye…glasses Edgar winked reprovingly。
〃That is a leading question；〃 he said。 〃I will pay all your
legitimate expensestransportation； food； lodging。 It won't cost
you a cent。 And you write the storywith my name left out；〃 he
added hastily； 〃it would hurt my standing in the trade；〃 he
explained 〃and get paid for it。〃
I saw a sea voyage at Edgar's expense。 I saw palm leaves； coral
reefs。 I felt my muscles aching and the sweat run from my neck and
shoulders as I drove my pick into the chest of gold。
〃I'll go with you！〃 I said。 We shook hands on it。 〃When do we
start？〃 I asked。
〃Now！〃 said Edgar。 I thought he wished to test me； he had touched
upon one of my pet vanities。
〃You can't do that with me！〃 I said。 〃My bags are packed and ready
for any place in the wide world； except the cold places。 I can
start this minute。 Where is it； the Gold Coast； the Ivory Coast；
the Spanish Main〃
Edgar frowned inscrutably。 〃Have you an empty suit…case？〃 he asked。
〃Why EMPTY？〃 I demanded。
〃To carry the treasure；〃 said Edgar。 〃I left mine in the hall。 We
will need two。〃
〃And your trunks？〃 I said。
〃There aren't going to be any trunks；〃 said Edgar。 From his pocket
he had taken a folder of the New Jersey Central Railroad。 〃If we
hurry；〃 he exclaimed； 〃 we can catch the ten…thirty express； and
return to New York in time for dinner。〃
〃And what about the treasure？〃 I roared。
〃We'll' bring it with us；〃 said Edgar。
I asked for information。 I demanded confidences。 Edgar refused
both。 I insisted that I might be allowed at least to carry my
automatic pistol。 〃Suppose some one tries to take the treasure from
us？〃 I pointed out。
〃No one；〃 said Edgar severely； 〃would be such an ass as to imagine
we are carrying buried treasure in a suit…case。 He will think it
contains pajama