"Now, Miss Browne, I'll take the liberty of drawing a moral from
this Story to fit the present instance: _where on the road between
Micklestane and Dumbiedykes is the chest_?"
Though startled at the audacity of Mr. Shaw, I was unprepared for
the spasm of absolute fury that convulsed Miss Browne's countenance.
"Mr. Shaw," she thundered, "if you intend to draw a parallel
between me and an ignorant Scotch peasant--!"
"Not at all," said Mr. Shaw calmly, "forebye the Wise Woman was a
most respectable person and had a grandson in the kirk. The point
is, can you indicate with any degree of exactness the whereabouts
of the chest? For there is a good deal of sand on the shores of
this island."
"Oh, but Mr. Shaw!" interposed Aunt Jane tremulously. "In the
sand--why, I am sure that is such a helpful thought! It shows
quite plainly that the chest is not buried in--in a rock, you
know." She gave the effect of a person trying to deflect a
thunderstorm with a palm-leaf fan.
"Dynamite---dynamite--blow the lid off the island!" mumbled Captain
Magnus.
"If any one has a definite plan to propose," said Mr. Shaw, "I am
very ready to consider it. I have understood myself from the first
to be acting under the directions of the ladies who planned this
expedition. As a mere matter of honesty to my employers, I should
feel bound to spare no effort to find the treasure, even if my own
interests were not so vitally concerned.
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