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cubbyhole up in the front of her； had one mast； and was pointed
at both ends。 However； Schwartz said she was all right。 He
claimed he knew the kind； that she was the sort used by French
fishermen； and could stand all sorts of trouble。 She didn't look
it。
We worked her up to Yuma； partly with oars and partly by sails。
Then we loaded her with grub for a month。 Each of us had his own
weapons； of course。 In addition we put in picks and shovels； and
a small cask of water。 Handy Solomon said that would be enough；
as there was water marked down on his chart。 We told the gang
that we were going trading。
At the end of the week we started； and were out four days。 There
wasn't much room； what with the supplies and the baggage； for the
five of us。 We had to curl up 'most anywheres to sleep。 And it
certainly seemed to me that we were in lots of danger。 The waves
were much bigger than she was； and splashed on us considerable；
but Schwartz and Anderson didn't seem to mind。 They laughed at
us。 Anderson sang that song of his； and Schwartz told us of the
placers he had worked。 He and Simpson had made a pretty good
clean…up； just enough to make them want to get rich。 The first
day out Simpson showed us a belt with about an hundred ounces of
dust。 This he got tired of wearing； so he kept it in a
compass…box； which was empty。
At the end of the four days we turned in at a deep bay and came
to anchor。 The country was the usual propositionvery
light…brown； brittle…looking mountains； about two thousand feet
high； lots of sage and cactus； a pebbly beach； and not a sign of
anything fresh and green。
But Denton and I were mighty glad to see any sort of land。
Besides； our keg of water was pretty low； and it was getting
about time to discover the spring the chart spoke of。 So we
piled our camp stuff in the small boat and rowed ashore。
Anderson led the way confidently enough up a dry arroyo； whose
sides were clay and conglomerate。 But； though we followed it to
the end； we could find no indications that it was anything more
than a wash for rain floods。
〃That's main queer；〃 muttered Anderson； and returned to the
beach。
There he spread out the chartthe first look at it we'd hadand
set to studying it。
It was a careful piece of work done in India ink； pretty old； to
judge by the look of it； and with all sorts of pictures of
mountains and dolphins and ships and anchors around the edge。
There was our bay； all right。 Two crosses were marked on the
land partone labelled 〃oro〃 and the other 〃agua。〃
〃Now there's the high cliff；〃 says Anderson； following it out；
〃and there's the round hill with the boulderand if them
bearings don't point due for that ravine； the devil's a
preacher。〃
We tried it again； with the same result。 A second inspection of
the map brought us no light on the question。 We talked it over；
and looked at it from all points； but we couldn't dodge the
truth： the chart was wrong。
Then we explored several of the nearest gullies； but without
finding anything but loose stones baked hot in the sun。
By now it was getting towards sundown； so we built us a fire of
mesquite on the beach； made us supper； and boiled a pot of beans。
We talked it over。 The water was about gone。
〃That's what we've got to find first；〃 said Simpson； 〃no question
of it。 It's God knows how far to the next water； and we don't
know how long it will take us to get there in that little boat。
If we run our water entirely out before we start； we're going to
be in trouble。 We'll have a good look to…morrow； and if we don't
find her； we'll run down to Mollyhay＇4＇ and get a few extra
casks。〃
＇4＇ Mulege … I retain the Old Timer's pronunciation。
〃Perhaps that map is wrong about the treasure； too；〃 suggested
Denton。
〃I thought of that；〃 said Handy Solomon； 〃but then； thinks I to
myself； this old rip probably don't make no long stay herejust
dodges in and out like； between tides； to bury his loot。 He
would need no water at the time； but he might when he came back；
so he marked the water on his map。 But he wasn't noways
particular AND exact； being in a hurry。 But you can kiss the
Book to it that he didn't make no such mistakes about the swag。〃
〃I believe you're right；〃 said I。
When we came to turn in； Anderson suggested that he should sleep
aboard the boat。 But Billy Simpson； in mind perhaps of the
hundred ounces in the compass…box； insisted that he'd just as
soon as not。 After a little objection Handy Solomon gave in； but
I thought he seemed sour about it。 We built a good fire； and in
about ten seconds were asleep。
Now； usually I sleep like a log； and did this time until about
midnight。 Then all at once I came broad awake and sitting up in
my blankets。 Nothing had happenedI wasn't even dreamingbut
there I was as alert and clear as though it were broad noon。
By the light of the fire I saw Handy Solomon sitting； and at his
side our five rifles gathered。
I must have made some noise； for he turned quietly toward me； saw
I was awake； and nodded。 The moonlight was sparkling on the hard
stony landscape； and a thin dampness came out from the sea。
After a minute Anderson threw on another stick of wood； yawned；
and stood up。
〃It's wet；〃 said he； 〃I've been fixing the guns。〃
He showed me how he was inserting a little patch of felt between
the hammer and the nipple； a scheme of his own for keeping damp
from the powder。 Then he rolled up in his blanket。 At the time
it all seemed quite naturalI suppose my mind wasn't fully
awake； for all my head felt so clear。 Afterwards I realised what
a ridiculous bluff he was making： for of course the cap already
on the nipple was plenty to keep out the damp。 I fully believe
he intended to kill us as we lay。 Only my sudden awakening
spoiled his plan。
I had absolutely no idea of this at the time； however。 Not the
slightest suspicion entered my head。 In view of that fact； I
have since believed in guardian angels。 For my next move； which
at the time seemed to me absolutely aimless； was to change my
blankets from one side of the fire to the other。 And that
brought me alongside the five rifles。
Owing to this fact； I am now convinced； we awoke safe at
daylight； cooked breakfast； and laid the plan for the day。
Anderson directed us。 I was to climb over the ridge before us
and search in the ravine on the other side。 Schwartz was to
explore up the beach to the left； and Denton to the right。
Anderson said he would wait for Billy Simpson； who had overslept
in the darkness of the cubbyhole； and who was now paddling
ashore。 The two of them would push inland to the west until a
high hill would give them a chance to look around for greenery。
We started at once； before the sun would be hot。 The hill I had
to climb was steep and covered with chollas； so I didn't get
along very fast。 When I was about half way to the top I heard a
shot from the beach。 I looked back。 Anderson was in the small
boat； rowing rapidly out to the vessel。 Denton was running up
the beach from one direction and Schwartz from the other。 I slid
and slipped down the bluff； getting pretty well stuck up with the
cholla spines。
At the beach we found Billy Simpson lying on his ace； shot
through the back。 We turned him over； but he was apparently
dead。 Anderson had hoisted the sail； had cut loose from the
anchor； and was sailing away。
Denton stood up straight and tall； looking。 Then he pulled his
belt in a hole； grabbed my arm； and started to run up the long
curve of the beach。 Behind us came Schwartz。 We ran near a
mile； and then fell among some tules in an inlet at the farther
point。
〃What is it？〃 I gasped。
〃Our only chanceto get him said Denton。 〃He's got to go
around this pointbig windperhaps his mast will bustthen
he'll come ashore〃 He opened and shut his big brown hands。
So there we two fools lay； like panthers in the tules； taking our
only one…in…a…million chance to lay hands on Anderson。 Any
sailor could have told us that the mast wouldn't break； but we
had winded Schwartz a quarter of a mile back。 And so we waited；
our eyes fixed on the boat's sail； grudging her every inch； just
burning to fix things to suit us a little better。 And naturally
she made the point in what I now know was only a fresh breeze；
squared away； and dropped down before the wind toward Guaymas。
We walked back slowly to our camp； swallowing the copper taste of
too hard a run。 Schwartz we picked up from a boulder； just
recovering。 We were all of us crazy mad。 Schwartz half wept；
and blamed and cussed。 Denton glowered away in silence。 I
ground my feet into the sand in a help less sort of anger； not
only at the man himself； bu