CHAPTER XXVI
The Letter In The Dory
“Yes,” continued Mr. Folsom when the expressions of surprise had died out, “Bill’s real name is Jule Verny, or Verginaud. He was just a young chap when they took the old man prisoner and shot his elder brother, but he must have been a good swimmer, for they say he swam all the way from the island to Fort Point. Anyhow, he got away. And he stayed away for years, although there wasn’t any reason why he should have, for he was just a boy and didn’t have anything to do with his father’s misdeeds, I guess. He showed up in Greenhaven years afterwards, when he was about thirty, I suppose, and no one would ever have known who he was if old Mother Chilten, who was about a hundred and never forgot a face, hadn’t called him by his name on the wharf one day. And Bill wouldn’t lie about it. But he always clung to the name of Glass, which I’ve suspected was a nickname given him on account of his glass eye. So now you know who Bill Glass is.”
“But I don’t see,” said Bee presently, “why Bill seemed so anxious to have us dig for the treasure. He always insisted that it was there somewhere and that we might find it. If it is his—”
“Perhaps that is the reason,” replied Mr. Folsom with a smile. “I guess Bill has hunted pretty well for it and now he’s willing to have someone else do the work for him. I guess if you had found it you’d have discovered Bill not very far away, Bee! I suppose now you’ll give up your treasure hunting. I didn’t tell you this before because I thought there wasn’t much danger of your running across it and I didn’t want to spoil your fun.”
“I’m not ready to give up yet,” replied Bee stoutly. “After all, it isn’t the money we want; it—it’s just the finding it! And unless the others are tired of it I’d like to keep on awhile longer. Anyway, it’s lots of fun on Nobody’s, Mr. Folsom, and I’m getting so I’d rather sleep in a tent than indoors!”
“We’ll give you until Monday, Bee,” laughed Hal. “If you haven’t found the treasure by that time we’ll quit. That’s fair, isn’t it?”
Bee agreed that it was, and shortly afterwards Jack, thanking Mr. Folsom again for his kindness, took his departure for the Neck. He didn’t go to sleep very soon after he was in bed, in spite of the fact that the hour was late. He had far too much to think about and was far too happy!
The next forenoon the Crystal Spring returned to the island, but owing to the fact that there was almost no breeze—the day had turned out hot and sultry—it was nearly dinner time when she reached her anchorage. As the anchor splashed, Hal, who had laid hold of the Corsair, which was to bear them ashore, glanced toward the wharf. Instantly—