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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
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MY BURIED TREASURE
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
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MY BURIED TREASURE
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
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
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MY BURIED TREASURE
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 smil