130 EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 



the roots of the nearest black-walnut tree. Captain 

 Kidd." 



There was a moment's check. It was Honey who 

 recognized the tree by its crooked clutching twigs, 

 and found at its roots a crumpled piece of paper 

 which said: "Go to the nearest tulip tree. Black- 

 beard the Pirate. " It was Trottie who remembered 

 that a tulip tree has square leaves, and it was he who 

 found the message which read: "I am buried under a 

 stone which stands between a spice-bush and a 

 white-ash tree. " They all knew the spice-bush, with 

 its brittle twigs and pungent bark which was made to 

 be nibbled, and under the stone they found a note 

 which said: "Look in the crotch of a dogwood tree. 

 If you will listen you will hear its bark"; which made 

 the Band laugh like anything. 



The last message of all read: "I am swinging in a 

 vireo's nest on the branch of a sour-gum tree." 

 That was a puzzle which held the Band hunting like 

 beagles in check for a long time. Corporal Alice- 

 Palace at last spied the bleached little basket-nest 

 at the end of a low limb. Inside was a bit of paper 

 which, when unfolded, seemed to be entirely blank. 

 So were the face of the Band as they looked. It was 

 the Captain again who saved the day. 



"I have heard," he whispered, "that sometimes 

 pirates write in lemon- juice, which makes an invisible 

 ink that needs heat to bring it out. Like the Gold- 

 Bug, you know. " 



It was enough. In less than sixty seconds, sun 

 time, the Band had built a tiny fire after the most 



