Sometimes 'tis
bar silver from the isthmus, and sometimes 'tis gold plate and
bullion that belonged to the old Kings of Mexico; but by the tale
I've heard offtenest, 'tis church treasure that was run away with by
a shipful of logwoodmen in Campeachy Bay. But there again you no
sooner fix it as church treasure, and ask where it came from, than
you have to choose between half a dozen different accounts. Some say
from the Spanish islands--Havana for choice; others from the Main,
and I've heard places mentioned as far apart us Vera Cruz and
Caracas. The dates, too--if you can call them dates at all--vary
just as surprisingly."
"The date on this chart is 1776," said Miss Belcher, who had been
peering at it while the Captain spoke.
"Then, supposing there's something in poor Coffin's secret, that
gives you the year to start from. We'll suppose this is the very
chart used by the man who hid the treasure. Then it follows the
treasure wasn't hidden before 1776, and that rules out all the yarns
about Hornigold, Teach, Bat Roberts, and suchlike pirates, the last
of whom must have been hanged a good fifty years before: though
here's evidence"--Captain Branscome laid a forefinger on the chart--
"that these gentry had dealings with the island in their day.
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