“What is the most likely thing they ever told you?” one asked.
“That I should go digging for money,” he replied.
A burst of laughter followed this grave assertion, and they asked to have it explained.
“Well the truth is this. Madame Maine told me that I was soon to be engaged in searching, or rather digging, for a pirate and his money.”
“Do you know where it is?” asked one, whose name was Olds.
Marble laughed at the thoughtful look which had settled on their faces, and answered, “No; she gave out when she had got about so far, and could not tell the rest.”
“I’ll warrant it was down in Lynn!” exclaimed Olds.
“What do you know about Lynn?” Marble asked.
“I have been there, myself,” he answered, earnestly; “and I have no doubt that there is money there. At any rate I advise you to try it.”
Soon after this Marble consulted a physician, who told him that he needed a change; the salt air would be good for him; he had better pay the sea-shore a visit. This decided him, for, as he afterward expressed it, everybody and everything he met seemed to be pointing him away, away.