and he said there was a rumor that one of the old-time freebooters had come ashore at Lighthouse Cove once, and buried part of his ill-gotten treasure there."
"Did you ask him where it was buried?" asked Sammy, eagerly.
"Oh, yes, but Hamp said he didn't know, and no one else did, though at different times many persons had dug for the gold."
"Did they find any?" asked Frank.
"Never, so the old sailor said. I'm sorry, now, that I mentioned it, for you boys won't do anything else but look for it, I'm afraid."
"We surely will have a try for it!" declared Sammy, earnestly.
"That's what!" exclaimed Bob.
"We'll have to get on the right side of Hamp Salina," said Frank. "Maybe he knows more than he's told."
"Well, don't count too much on it, and then you won't be disappointed," advised Mrs. Bouncer, with a smile. "You'd best run along now, Frank and Sammy, and see if your parents will let you come with Bob."
"If my folks don't let me go," said Sammy, slowly, as he thought of the chance of the pirate's treasure, "if they won't let me go, I—I won't go with them. I'll stay here in Fairview all Summer."
"And so will I!" cried Frank. "But I'm sure they'll let us."
Frank proved to be a good prophet. When Mrs. Haven and Mrs. Brown had read the notes written by Mrs. Bouncer, inviting the boys to Barnacle Cottage, they at once gave their consents. As Mrs. Brown said to Mrs. Haven:
"We'd never have any peace with our boys if they were alone with us, at the places to which we are going. They'd much better be together."
