THE BEATING OP THE JACKS. 113 



" He must Lave Lad a big coffin," remarked 

 Tom. 



" No, it is not a coffin, but evidently a very 

 large LogsLead, into wLicL tLe body was tLrown. 

 Don't come too near tLe edge, or you will all 

 fall in." 



"I've been Lere over twenty years," said 

 Long JoLn, wLo Lad landed to see wLat tLe ex- 

 citement was, "and never knew any one to be 

 buried Lere. It must Lave been one of tLe old 

 SpanisL pirates ; tLey used to lie Lere years 

 ago." 



TLe boys Lad Leard it wLispered tLat Long 

 JoLn Lad been a pirate Limself once upon a 

 time, and tLougLt Le migLt perhaps explain the 

 strange grave, if so inclined ; but Le said notL- 

 ing further. 



TLe doctor took tLe bones out carefully, but 

 most of tbeni crumbled away. TLe skull was 

 found to be nearly perfect, but witb a fracture 

 at tLe base, giving tLe impression tLat tLe 

 owner Lad come to a violent end. TLe remains 

 were placed togetLer again, and covered witL 

 tLe surrounding sand, probably for tLe last time. 



