“Well, Luke,” he said, “have you discovered anything?”
“Yes,” answered Clark.
“What is it?” asked Guy, eagerly. “Not the cross?”
“No, not the cross. This is what I found.”
He drew from his pocket a small volume, looking like an account book. The cover bore the marks of exposure. It had evidently been out in the rain, but the inside pages were full of writing which was still legible.
“The book must have been left here by one of the pirates,” said Guy.
“No; not by one of the pirates, but by an unfortunate man who met the fate that we have all been dreading.”
“What do you mean, Luke?”
“I mean that the man who wrote the account which you will find in this book was left here purposely by a ship captain who had a grudge against him. So much I have gathered from the pages that I have read.”
“Sit down and read it to us. It is nearly two hours before we shall have to be on the beach to meet the boat.”