THE TREASURE-HUNT 121 



It is probably due to these lawless traits that in 

 my meridian years I now hold the position which I 

 do. Five and a half days in the week I practise law. 

 On Saturday and Sunday afternoons and all holidays, 

 legal and illegal, I am the Captain of a Robber Band, 

 with all the perquisites and perils which go with that 

 high office. Without vaunting myself unduly, I may 

 claim to have fairly deserved my position. Starting 

 as a mere friar in the band of one Robin Hood, my 

 abilities as an outlaw brought me rapidly to the front. 

 Thereafter, when that band was reorganized, I was 

 unanimously offered the position once held by that 

 implacable character who knew the Sesame Secret 

 and pursued a Mr. Baba so unsuccessfully, yet so 

 unflinchingly. Flattered by this recognition of qual- 

 ities of leadership unsuspected by an unthinking 

 world, I accepted the responsibilities of the captaincy. 

 They were shared by First-Lieutenant Trottie, 

 Second-Lieutenant Honey, Sergeant Henny-Penny, 

 and Corporal Alice-Palace. There were no privates. 



It was on a spring evening soon after the afore- 

 said election that the Band met. The Captain spoke 

 with the stern brevity which characterizes all great 

 leaders. 



"Comrades," he announced, shutting the door 

 and looking carefully under the sofa to make sure 

 that there were no spies about, "I have just heard 

 that there is a treasure not many miles from here. 

 All those in favor of a treasure-hunt to-morrow will 

 kindly make a loud noise. " 



The vote was probably the finest collection of as- 



