"Now this island I have shown on the map, the nether side upon which I am writing, as a star with six points to it; though the shore marking nor the extent of the island is as yet unknown to any but those barbarians who live upon it."
There ended the main portion of the story, but in a bracket at the bottom was written:
"In some other place will be found the account of our miraculous return from this strange and mysterious island of many barbarians and much gold."
As Curlie finished, he glanced up with a sigh.
The girl was staring at him so intently that he could not but think she was attempting to read his thoughts.
"Isn't it wonderful?" she breathed at last.
"Yes," said Curlie quickly, "you expressed it even better before. It's great!"
He looked away. His head was in a whirl It was the long-lost map; he was sure of that now. He remembered the figures he had copied from that other reproduction. They were blurred and unreadable on this one. Should he tell her?
His lips opened but no sound came out. No, he would not tell her, not at this time. There might be some other way.
"Your brother and his chum," he said evenly, "have gone in search of that island of gold."