THE TREASURE-HUNT 129 



a stocking, and the snake was inserted therein, 

 giving the stocking that knobbed, lumpy appearance 

 usually seen in such articles only at Christmas time. 



From the Den the Band marched to a bowl- 

 shaped meadow not far from old Tory Bridge, under 

 which a Revolutionary soldier hid with his horse 

 while his pursuers thundered overhead, well-nigh 

 a century and a half ago. On three sides of the field 

 the green turf sloped down to a long level stretch, 

 covered by a thin growth of different trees, centring 

 on a thicket through which trickled a little stream. 

 Near the fence on a white-oak tree some ill-tempered 

 owner had fastened a fierce sign which read: "Keep 

 out. Trespassers will be shot without notice." 

 The cross owner had been gone many a long year, 

 but the sign still stood, and it always gave the Band 

 a delightful thrill to read it. 



At the edge of the grove the Captain halted them 

 all. 



"Comrades," he said in a whisper, "I have heard 

 rumors that there is a clue to the treasure hidden in 

 the sign- tree. " 



It was enough. With one accord the Band sprang 

 upon that defenceless tree. Some searched among 

 its gnarled roots. Others examined the lower 

 branches. It was Henny-Penny, however, who 

 boosted by Alice-Palace, fumbled back of the threat- 

 ening old sign and drew out a crumpled slip of grimy 

 paper. On it had been laboriously inscribed in some 

 red fluid, presumably blood, a skull and cross-bones. 

 Underneath, in a very bad hand, was written: "By 



