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 
