The Secret Chart: Treasure Hunting in Hayti
9781465653970
102 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
Near the mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek the yacht Day Dream lay at anchor on a certain day in September, two years ago. The driving rain only served to give her white hull, with its trimmings of gold, an additional luster, bringing into yet bolder relief the polished mahogany and walnut inboard woodwork. Two sailors and an old colored steward remained below to escape an unnecessary wetting, and the fifty-ton beauty tugged at the cable as if trying to escape from her moorings before her caretakers should be aware of the fact. On the river bank, half-hidden by a clump of trees, was the old stone house owned by Henry Mansfield, formerly a captain in the China trade, but now retired. Having accumulated considerable wealth, he believed it would be more pleasant to remain ashore permanently; but, after a short time of idleness, his love for the sea returned with redoubled force, and, as a result, the Day Dreamwas purchased. On her the captain spent considerably more than half his time, and now the little craft was provisioned for a long southern cruise, much to the delight of the owner’s son Gilbert, and his nephew, Nelson Duncan, who had, after no slight difficulty, succeeded in gaining permission to make the voyage. The boys were on shore overhauling their traps, preparatory to leaving early next morning, and having considerable trouble in deciding just what should be left behind. “We’ve laid out a big pile of stuff,” Gilbert said, as he surveyed the guns, fishing tackle, clothes, and a general assortment of odds and ends, which both he and his cousin had thought would be necessary to their comfort and pleasure during the voyage; “but if we throw anything out, it will be just what we may want most when the yacht is at sea.” “But how are we to get so much aboard?” “In case your trunk and mine won’t hold it all, there’s an old chest in the attic, which will be the very ticket. If it doesn’t stop raining pretty soon, we’ll have to get a piece of tarpaulin to cover them while going out to the schooner.” That the old chest would be needed was learned very soon, and Gil said, with a sigh: “There’s no question but that something must be left. We’ll pack the most important, and then decide as to the rest. Come on, it won’t take long to overhaul what is in the attic.” The only idea in the minds of the boys was to secure that which would serve as a receptacle for their goods until the same could be carried to the schooner, and, on finding the well-worn chest, it was only natural to first make sure that it was empty. The rusted lock was fastened, and, eager to complete the work as soon as possible, Gil knocked the hasp off by kicking at it, after which the lid was thrown open. At first glance one would have said that it contained nothing, but on turning it upside down several articles rolled out.
