The Pirate's Gold by Gordon Stables

"Sail like my pinnace to these golden shores. " / SHAKESPEARE.

"A pleasing land of drowsyhed it was, / Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye, / And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, / For ever flushing round a summer sky. " / THOMSON.

We landed at last, and telling the man to wait for us, we started off to make our first call. We were all fairly well dressed, though for my own part I should have preferred some other rig-out, had it been but the garb of Old Gaul (Highland dress), to that black surtout, white waistcoat, and broad-brimmed soft felt hat. I also wore an eye-glass. Reeves was similarly attired, and Miguel looked quite the clergyman all over, and wore a pair of most classical-looking spectacles. It was a beautiful house we approached, just a little inland it lay, square, with verandas, and surrounded by nice gardens, which, late in the year though it was, were still gay with gorgeous flowers.

"Is Mr. C. H. in? " said Reeves to a young lady who was culling a bouquet with a small pair of scissors in her dainty fingers.

"Yes, my father is at home, and will be so all day. Of course you will walk in. I shall soon find him for you."

We smiled, thanked the young lady, who by the way was very good-looking, and were soon seated in a large and prettily-furnished drawing-room.

In a few minutes Mr. H. himself came in, holding our cards in his hand.

"Glad to meet Britishers," he said frankly; "for mind we Southerners can never forget that your country had a leaning towards us during the great Civil War."

"That I can testify to," I said, "for my own ship was what we sailors call chummy ship not only with the _Alabama_, but with the _Georgia_ and _Florida_; and once I and another officer had the pleasure of sending the big _Vanderbilt_, a Yankee who was looking for the daring cruiser, on a wild-goose chase of over a thousand miles."

"Bravo! Well, what can I do for you?"

"We are what they call scientists, or _savants_, on the other side of the ocean," replied Reeves. "They say the best study of mankind is man. Perhaps; but at present we prefer them dead, and nothing except bones."

"I begin to see," said our host.

"On this beautiful island of yours," Reeves continued, "many hundreds of years ago, a strange tribe of Indians lived. They were probably different from any now in existence. So, too, were their arms and implements different. Well, we have it on pretty correct information that hundreds of these were buried in certain mounds which we possess the means of locating, and that with them rest their arms and implements. We wish, if permitted, to do a little in the way of excavation. Can you assist us?"

"I do not _think_," returned Mr. H., "that there can be any mounds of interest on the patch I own; but farther back is the property of my neighbours, and I am sure they will only be too pleased to permit you to excavate as much as you please.

"Now listen, gentlemen," he added. "To-day you must take luncheon with me all alone, and not trouble your heads about excavations or exhumations either. After luncheon, if you will allow me, I will drive you over the island."

"We will be delighted," said Reeves.

"Then you shall dine with myself and daughter to-morrow evening, and I will take care you meet just the landed proprietors that can assist you. The mounds you say are around here?"

"Within a radius of about three miles."

"Capital!"

The luncheon passed off most pleasantly. Then our parson -- that is, Miguel -- and Miss H. found themselves by the piano.