"
"Has anyone ever suspected you of being useful in any capacity?"
demands Old Hickory.
"Oh, come!" protests Dudley. "I play a fair game of bridge, don't I?"
"Exception allowed," says Mr. Ellins. "And I may say, to quiet any
similar fears, that the entire burden of the treasure hunt will be
undertaken by Mrs. Hemmingway, the Captain, and myself. Incidentally,
we expect to divide the spoils among ourselves. Aside from that, we
ask you to share with us the pleasure and perhaps the perils of the
trip."
"O-o-o-oh!" coos Mrs. Mumford, meanin' nothing at all.
"We have secured a good-sized, comfortable yacht," goes on Old Hickory.
"You will each have a stateroom, assigned by lot. Meal hours and the
menu will be left to the discretion of a competent steward.
"We sail on Wednesday, promptly at 11 A.M. Just when we shall return I
can't say. It may be in a month, possibly two. You will need to dress
for the tropics--thin clothing, sun helmets, colored glasses, all that
sort of thing.
"And you need not be surprised to learn that the yacht is somewhat
heavily armed. On the forward deck you will see something wrapped in
canvas. To anticipate your curiosity I will state now that this is a
machine for making and distributing poisonous gas, as our treasure
island is infested with rattlesnakes and mosquitos.
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