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- 
