Explorers of the Dawn

ad the flavor of ambrosia. By nightfa

a corner of the yard behind the ash barrel together with an iron crowbar

rning we were heedless scholars indeed, and at dinner I ate so little that Mrs. Handsomebody was

s heart to be at his old profession again, and indeed I never saw a merrier twinkle in any one's eyes. He had found

e understood. Anything we find is to be yours entirely. If I were to take any such goods into my son's house, his wi

e it under your b

ng. And even if they didn't locate it till I am dead, they'd feel disg

arted with the understanding that we were to meet him in the passage between the two houses pro

lab of cold bread pudding filched from the

murmur, but on this night we literally flew there. The Seraph ended his

under the bed clothes and snu

At nine we were so hungry that we ate all four crullers. At eleven we ate the slab of cold bread pudding. After that we talked less, and I think Angel do

r, that showed our little room to me in a new

an instant. I shoo

ispered, hoarsely.

ust grasped him under the armpits and stood him on his feet withou

lock pointed to te

rt, stuck a knife in his belt, and twisted a scarlet silk handkerchief (borro

hat he girt his trusty sword about his

ld smell the old carpets and the haircloth covering of the chairs. We sidled down the back hall

n I had a try, and could not resist a triumphant click of the tongue when it

us in the yard!-oh, the deliciou

on, hanging like a tilted bird's nest in the dark blue sky, while a group of stars f

n place of his flowered dressing-gown, he wore breeches and top boots, a loose shirt

roadly when

ry man-jack of you-even to the

d The Seraph with dignity.

ch of us in turn, and we thrilled at

eartily. "Here is the plan o

the ash barrel and the clothes dryer, and there, on the fifth plank fr

e fourth and fifth boards, then we all pressed our full weig

the ground. Somehow the Captain, versed in such m

plank to dislodge it. This we accomplished after

and with his hand explored cautiou

rs if I can find

y!" I crie

so and fumbled among the moist lumps of

and held it in the aperture. It

red Angel. "This way-ri

h. We grasped it simultaneously and pulled. Captain Pegg lighted another match. It was heavy-oh, so heavy!-but we got

in Captain Pegg's face. His wide, blu

" he said gen

contents out upon the bare boards. The treasure lay disclosed then, a glimmer

t, our heads touching, our wonderi

-struck voice, "real treasure-trove. Will you t

est of us, ran his hands meditativ

n doubloons, all right, one apiece for ye! And here's ducats and silver florins, and pieces of eight-and some I can't name till I get the daylig

gon, a compass, a wonderful set of chess men carved from ivory, and some curious shells, that delighted The Seraph. And other quaint

s. Then, with a start, we turned, and saw to our horror Mrs. Handsomebody and Mary Ellen, with her hair in curl

xander!" gobbled

ink of that!" cam

gone quite mad?"

r-" stammered the gent

ose to his fee

buried treasure, stolen from me years ago by a man named Jenks, and hidden here sinc

bent over t

rather sharply, "some of this se

s father, with equal asperity, "and I intend it

up like that for?" dema

he part. We do what we can to keep a little glamour and gaiety in the world. So

"that, considering it is my b

ed Captain Pegg. "By all the rules of treas

enced. She did not wish t

moved clos

pupils to accept this-er-treasure. My father-in-law has become very eccentric of late, and I am positive that he himse

Sophia!" shouted

gg looked warni

l be just as you say; but one thing is certain, you'll take your death of cold if

th Angel and me, then he lifted The

ing," he said, sof

d he, "I haven't kissed a little boy l

went off quite amiably, arm in arm, Mr

"Mary Ellen," she ordered, "help the children to gather

asure to our bedroom. Mrs. Handsomebody, after seeing it deposited the

and tell him the whole circumstance. Then we shall se

ft us. We snuggled our little

elf, tomorrow, an' 'splai

l be a pirate, 'stead of a civil engineer

gineer just th

fink I'll jus' be a bishop, an' go to bed at