214 NOVEMBER 



" Ah ! " assented Meshach. 



" What makes you think there's a treasure there ?" 



"Bill said there was. He said I was to dig under 

 the apple tree until I come to buried treasure." 



" Come out to the apple tree," said Nancy. 



They went out of the cottage and stood in the 

 little patch of garden at the back on which the old 

 apple tree grew. At the side of the house was a 

 well-tended flower garden, and behind was a plot 

 stocked with vegetables. Under the apple tree was 

 a carpet of green turf. 



"It's such a pity to dig this up," said Nancy. 



" I must if I be to find the treasure." 



" Maybe your brother didn't mean that the trea- 

 sure was a buried one." 



" What else could he ha' meant ? " 



"Oh, I don't know," replied Nancy carelessly. 

 " Where do you think you'll find it ? Here ? " 



She was standing close to the tree, and as I 

 know Nancy Bidstraw very well indeed, I can 

 picture the wicked way in which her dark eyes 

 met his. 



" I dunno." 



" Or here ? " moving to the wall of the house. 

 " Do you think 'tis here ?" 



" I dunno," said Meshach again. 



" Or here ? " going to the garden hedge. 



" I dunno," repeated the young man stupidly. 



" No, I don't think you do know," cried Nancy, 

 with irritation; "an 1 what's more I don't believe you 

 ever will know. Bill knew, but he couldn't get it." 



" Couldn't get it ! Not his own treasure ? " cried 

 Meshach in open-mouthed amazement. 



