Then she went home, and Charity and Hope opened their packets eagerly.
There was a great deal of paper but not much writing. Charity's was as follows:
"Captain Charles sends greetings to his wife. He wishes her to find the Pirate's Haunt, and let me know his house and his riteful name. She must make the journey by land, but she must not fale to do it. For a lot hangs on the Finding! And she must rite the name in sekrecy and seal her letter with a red seal and send it through the post. And if she does not keep it sekret death will o'ertake her.
"(Signed) CAPTAIN CHARLES."
Hope opened hers and found a strange map, drawn in red ink by Charlie. This was the letter accompanying it.
"Captain Charles to his humble and devotted servant Bolt. I charge you to studey this map, and to find on your walks the place that is called Boggy Glen. There is a wonderful herbe therein, called Wild peppermint, whichesame will releave the Captain of his mortal sicknes, and is to be sent to me in a sealed letter by poste with no derlay.
"(Signed) CAPTAIN CHARLES."
"What fun!" cried Hope. "You and me, Charity, will have to be busy!"
"And he's given me nothing to do," said Faith, feeling aggrieved; "nothing at all."
"You're his messenger," said Charity, "you must take back answers to these notes. A King's messenger is most important, and so is a Captain's messenger."
Faith's face brightened. She took back two notes the next day to the doctor's house, but did not see Charlie. These were the notes:
"MY DEAR HUSBAND,
"I'm sorry you're sick, but I'll find the Pirate in a jiffy. I wish you had told me to hang him or something difficult like that, but after all I don't want him hanged, because he was very kind. I mustn't let him know of course. I'll criep about like a spy and follow his tracks. I think I've already found out his name. But I'll write it hidden in a sentence and you'll have to find it out. Good-bye and good luck.
"Your sooperior WIFE."