Ellins to state the proposition. Which he does in his usual crisp way.
"You have been asked," says he, "to go with us on a cruise to the west
coast of Florida. That is all you are supposed to know about it,
according to Captain Killam's notion. But that's nonsense. I, for
one, don't intend to keep up an air of mysterious secrecy for the next
three or four weeks. As a matter of fact, we are going after hidden
treasure--pirate gold, buried jewels, all that sort of thing."
"O-o-o-oh!" coos Mrs. Mumford. "Doesn't that sound deliciously
romantic?"
"Quixotic if you will," says Mr. Ellins. "But Mrs. Hemmingway and
myself, although we may not look it, are just that kind. We are
desperate characters, if the truth must be told. The only reason we
haven't hunted for buried treasure before is that we have lacked the
opportunity. We think we have it now. Captain Killam, here, has told
us of an island on which is a buried pirate hoard--millions in gold,
priceless jewels by the peck. And that's what we're going after."
"Most interesting, I'm sure," says Professor Barr, wipin' his glasses
absent-minded with a corner of Mrs. Mumford's shoulder scarf.
"But, I say," puts in J. Dudley Simms, "I'll not be any help at
digging, you know.
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