Let me assure the readers, at the beginning of this sketch1, that it is strictly2 true in every particular. I have no ambition to shine as a writer of fiction, and, at the request of a number of friends acquainted with the remarkable3 circumstances, have sat down to relate, in a straightforward4 manner as is at my command; the part that I took in the history of the famous Buried Treasure.
Not the least singular part of this strange business was that, of the three individuals concerned two were boys, one being my son Frank (named for his father) and a playmate, Arthur Newman. The latter was thirteen years old, while Frank was only a few months his senior.
They were inseparable playmates from early childhood; and as we lived near a broad, deep inlet, which put in from the Atlantic, they learned to swim at the age of ten, and soon learned to manage a yacht as well as veterans. I was sometimes anxious because of their venturesome disposition5, but although they frequently ventured outside, sometimes in very nasty weather, no accident ever befell them, and the parents of both boys gradually learned to dismiss all fear concerning them, under the belief that, as they grew older, they became better fitted to take care of themselves.
One day in March Frank told me that a suspicious brig had been standing6 off shore for the better part of a week, and he and Arthur had come to the conclusion that it was a pirate. I laughed heartily7 at their fancy, and assured them that the days of buccaneers and sea rovers were long since past, and they must dismiss all such absurd ideas from their minds.
The following week the Atlantic sea-board was devastated8 by one of the fiercest storms that had been known for years. Reports of wrecks9 and disasters to shipping10 reached us for several days after, and Frank remarked one evening at supper that he believed his suspected pirate was one of the unfortunate vessels11 that had gone down with all on board. I smiled at his words, but when I learned that the beach was strewn with wreckage12, and that a great deal of it had washed into the inlet, I thought it probable that he was right, so far as the fate of the strange ship was concerned.
It was near the close of the month that my boy brought home a tightly corked13 bottle, which he and Arthur had found while cruising in the inlet. When he said that there was a piece of rolled paper inside, I felt enough curiosity to withdraw the stopper with the aid of a strong corkscrew, and to make an examination.
Sure enough there was a small roll of thick, vellum-like paper, on which, in a cramped14 hand, evidently written years before, was the following:
"Three feet under the Beacon15 Tree."
For a minute or two I was puzzled, and then, as if by inspiration, the whole truth burst upon me.
The Beacon Tree was the name of an immense poplar that stood near the mouth of the inlet. The fish-hawks had builded their nests in the forked tops for a half century. I remember hearing my father say it was struck by lightning long before and although its upper branches were shattered, and it had been as dead as a fence-post ever since, yet its immense size, great height, and peculiar16, silver-like appearance caused it to become a prominent landmark17 to the vessels when approaching the coast, and long before I was born it gained the name of the Beacon Tree, by which title it was known to unnumbered hundreds of sailors and sea-faring men.
"There is a treasure buried under that tree," I said to Frank, suppressing my excitement so far as I could. "More than likely it was placed there by some freebooter a long time ago, and these people were awaiting a chance to dig it up."
"Maybe Captain Kidd buried it," suggested the boy.
"Possibly he did, for there is reason to believe that he hid a great deal of treasure along the Atlantic coast. Now, since Arthur was with you when you found this bottle, he has the same claim to the treasure that you have. We will not say anything to his father, and you must take particular care not to give a hint to a living soul. Go over and tell Arthur to come here this evening. I will furnish the shovels19 and lantern, and when we are sure that no one will see us, we will slip over to the Beacon Tree and dig."
I recall that I was never so absolutely sure of anything in my life as I was that valuable treasure lay buried under the old poplar. My wife, to whom I showed the little roll of paper, expressed a doubt, and smilingly hinted that perhaps I was too much impressed by that brilliant sketch of Edgar A. Poe called "The Gold Bug20."
"Of course," I answered, "disappointment may await us, and I know these bottles picked up at sea are frequently frauds; but the age of the writing and the peculiar circumstances convince me that this is genuine. I am sure something will be found under the Beacon Tree."
Meantime Frank had hurried off to acquaint Arthur with the amazing discovery, and to warn him against dropping a hint to any one. My son soon returned with the word that his friend was "b'iling" with excitement, but alas21! his parents were going to spend that evening with a neighbor, and since they would not be back until late, there was no possible way of his joining us.
The boys were not more disappointed than I, and the impulse was strong upon me to make the venture without the help of Arthur, meaning, of course that such a proceeding22 should not affect his share in the find; but it did not strike me that that would be exactly right, and Arthur was informed that we three would attend to the business the following evening.
I could not avoid strolling out to the Beacon Tree the next day. I did so in the most off-hand manner and with the most unconcerned expression I could assume; but had any one scrutinized23 my countenance24, I am sure he would easily have detected the deep agitation25 under which I was laboring26.
I was considerably27 disturbed, upon examining the immediate28 surroundings of the tree, to discover signs which looked as if some one had been digging there quite recently.
"The secret has become known and the treasure has been carried off," I gasped29, with a rapidly throbbing31 heart.
Reflection, however, reassured32 me. No one had seen the writing in the bottle beside myself (though evidently it must have been known to others), and it was certain that if any person had succeeded in unearthing33 the hidden wealth, he would not have taken the trouble to hide all signs with such extreme care. Closer examination, too, convinced me there had been no digging about the tree at all. And yet I was mistaken.
We three reached the old poplar the next evening between ten and eleven o'clock. Arthur had escaped inquiry34 by slipping out of his bedroom window after bidding his parents good-night; and, inasmuch as the lantern which I carried was not lit until we arrived at the tree, we were confident of escaping attention. Still I watched sharply, and was greatly relieved to discover no persons abroad at that hour beside ourselves.
Since the treasure was located but three feet below the surface, in sandy soil, I brought only one shovel18, while the boys watched me, one holding the lantern, and both casting furtive35 glances around to guard against eavesdroppers. It would be useless to deny my excitement. My heart at times throbbed36 painfully, and more than once I was on the point of ceasing until I could regain37 mastery of myself.
"Pop, you must be nearly deep enough," said Frank, in a guarded undertone.
"I'm pretty near to the place," I replied stopping a minute to draw my handkerchief across my perspiring38 forehead.
"I'm afraid there's somebody watching us," added Arthur.
"Where?" I asked in affright, staring around in the gloom.
"I thought I saw a man moving out yonder."
"Well, it's too late for him to interfere39 now," I said, compressing my lips and renewing my digging more determinedly40 than ever; "I carry a revolver with me, and I don't mean to be robbed."
The next moment my heart gave a great throb30, for the shovel struck something hard.
"Hold the lantern down here, Frank, quick!" I commanded in a hoarse41 voice.
He obeyed, but to my disappointment the object proved to be a large stone.
"I guess it's under that," I whispered, stopping work for a moment.
"Pop, there's another piece of paper," said Frank.
I stooped over and picked it up. I saw that there was writing on it, and holding it up beside the lantern read:
"Dig three feet under the Beacon Tree and you will be an April fool."
Once again the truth flashed across me. The whole thing was a practical joke.
"Boys," said I, "what day of the month is this?"
They reflected a moment and answered:
"Why, it's the first of April."
"Let's go home," I added, stepping out of the excavation42, "and here's a half a dollar apiece if you don't tell anybody about it."
As we moved mournfully away I was sure I heard a chuckling43 laugh somewhere near in the darkness, but the author of it was prudent44 enough to keep beyond reach.
It was not until three months afterward45 that I learned all the facts connected with the writing found in a bottle. My neighbor, the father of Arthur Newman, on whom I had played several jokes, adopted this means of retaliating46 on me. He took my son and his own into his confidence, and I am grieved to say that the young rascals47 were just as eager as he. When I proposed to make the search on the last day of March, my friend resorted to the subterfuge48 I have mentioned, so as to insure that it should not take place until the following evening, which was unquestionably appropriate for my first and last essay in digging for buried treasure.
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1
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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2
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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4
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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6
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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8
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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9
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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12
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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13
corked
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| adj.带木塞气味的，塞着瓶塞的v.用瓶塞塞住( cork的过去式 ) | |
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14
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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landmark
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| n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标 | |
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shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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shovels
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| n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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bug
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| n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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27
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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30
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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31
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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32
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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33
unearthing
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| 发掘或挖出某物( unearth的现在分词 )； 搜寻到某事物，发现并披露 | |
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34
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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35
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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36
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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37
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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38
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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39
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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40
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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41
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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42
excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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43
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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44
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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45
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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46
retaliating
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| v.报复，反击( retaliate的现在分词 ) | |
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47
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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48
subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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