Jack looked blankly at his comrades. He held the letter in his hand unopened, while the others crowded closer.
"Open it up, Captain," urged Tom. "Let's get at this mystery at once. We're usually shrouded in so much mystery you could cut it with a knife. What's the good news? Is the treasure discovered?"
"Quit your joking, Tom. This may be more serious than we think. Wyckoff is not writing letters for the fun of it. He means business."
"I can testify to that," declared Frank. "He surely does mean business. This treasure stuff is actually real to Wyckoff."
"And that's what makes him so dangerous," Jack mused. "He's really deluded himself into thinking there is a treasure and that it should rightfully belong to him. Therefore he gets desperate when he imagines anyone is trying to take it from him. He's bad medicine."
"Well, let's get at the letter," cried Tom impatiently.
"Yes, open it up, Jack, and let's hear what he has to say."
"Well, here it is," Jack replied unfolding the paper. "He says: 'For the last time, go back. Your pals are put out of the way and you are next. The treasure belongs to me and I'm going to have it.'"
"That's a pretty 'howdedo,'" declared Tom as Jack's voice ceased. "I suppose he thinks a Boy Scout will up and go right home."
"Evidently he doesn't believe any such thing, but just to be on what he calls the safe side, he's sent this warning."