Lilian laughed. “I don’t know that I have any ‘facts’ about him, but I find that there is a story about the real Captain Kidd and the Kennebec. It is said that he used to attack boats that came to this trading center, kill off everybody but one, whom he left to help him carry the goods to his hiding place, and then kill him too. Nice old pirate! And they say that the name ‘Merrymeeting’ applied not only to the five rivers beside the Kennebec that come into Merrymeeting Bay, but to the meeting of the tribes here.”
“Then the boys’ stories were true, or at least some of them!” said June with satisfaction.
“How can you be glad that such terrible things happened,” teased Lilian.
“O, I wouldn’t have had ’em happen,” explained June carefully, “but if they did happen I want to know about it, and it would be great if we could find some treasure. Miss Patty, do you know where we could get something to dig with?”
“No, June, and remember, kiddies, that you can’t dig up the place,—it isn’t yours. And if you ever go to the hunters’ cabin, Hilary and some of the big girls must go with you.”
“O, dear, then we can’t have any fun, I suppose, and if we did find anything it wouldn’t belong to us anyway!”
“Finders keepers,” suggested Dot.
“That wouldn’t be honest, I’m afraid,” said June.
“That ethical point can be decided if you ever come across any treasure. I’m sure that you would be amply rewarded! Have fun thinking about it anyhow.”
“S’pose we’d find some big red rubies,” suggested Jo.