Chapter 8 - Still Digging
Harry was digging away diligently at the edge of a large hole and tossing the dirt on a pile behind him. Unfortunately, he didn't see Charlie step behind him and he threw a shovel full of dirt on top of the tramp. Harry kept on working, not realizing that Charlie was behind him, fuming, covered in dirt, trying to brush it off. Harry was about to throw another shovel full behind him when Charlie tried to grab his shovel to stop him, but instead, Harry hit him in the head accidentally and he fell in the hole.
Harry looked astonished. Kneeling down and peering into the hole, he said, "How did you get down there, Charlie?"
"I thort it was a pond and d'cided t' tyke a swim," said Charlie sarcastically.
"You would be better off swimming in the creek, Charlie," said Harry.
Charlie sighed. "Gimme a 'and, 'Arry…" Harry pulled Charlie halfway up the side of the hole when a bee decided to alight on Harry's nose. Harry looked at it cross-eyed, and then forgetting he was holding onto Charlie, let go one of his hands to slap at the bee. Both Charlie and Harry fell into in the hole.
They both stood up and Charlie gave Harry a good shove. Harry ended up sitting down again, looking surprised. "What'd you do that for, Charlie?"
Charlie was about to say, Fer bein' stupid! but he held his tongue, remembering what Nora had said. Instead he said, "Let's get outa 'ere…" The two climbed out of the hole getting grimier than ever from the soft, dry and sandy soil.
Just then, Violette pulled up in her rig. She had seen them both climbing out of the hole and now that she was close she could see that they were both covered in dirt. "My, you boys must have been working hard, you're both filthy!" She started to laugh so hard she had to sit down. She had been so tense from worrying that it felt good to laugh.
Violette wiped her eyes with her lacy handkerchief. "Well, I have some good news. I went to see Dr. Davis this morning."
"Are yer feelin' awroigh', Miss Evans?" asked Charlie.
"Sure, I'm fine. I just went to ask him to use his microscope."
"His wha'?"
"She said microscope, Charlie," said Harry. "It's a instrument for looking at very small things, ain't it, Ma'am?"
"Shu' up, kid," said Charlie.
"Now cut it out, boys…Harry's right though, I thought that Dr. Davis could look at the map with the microscope and see what my uncle had written."
"Did he see anything?" asked Harry.
"Not with the microscope, but he did see some words with his magnifying glass. Get in the rig and I'll tell you while we're driving back. You both need a bit of a clean-up anyway."
Violette said, "My uncle actually wrote some things on the back, which none of us had seen. He wrote that he had been to the South Seas exploring early in the year 1874 and had saved one of the natives from death with a snakebite antidote. The native was head of his tribe and very grateful to Uncle Ted. He gave him a treasure which consisted of gold pieces and some uncut gemstones. Ted took it home when he left the island.
"Upon returning, he asked his brother, my father, if he could bury it on our land. He was taking up residence in Boston, having joined a law firm there as an associate. He was always planning to come and get the treasure to have the gemstones cut and he had promised half to my father for safekeeping it on our land. Unfortunately, Ted never married and had no heirs. My parents and brother are gone too, so I am the sole heir."
"Violette, did 'e say where th' treasure is buried?" asked Charlie.
"Not exactly. Some of the words are erased for good, but there is a hint. This is the bad news, boys. You've been digging on the wrong side of the creek. The map is upside down from the way that we were looking at it. There is a tiny arrow pointing North which we couldn't see at all except with the magnifying glass. And I think we can narrow it down a bit better on the other side. So, what do you say you knock off work for today and we'll celebrate…Nora can make us a nice dinner."
Charlie spoke up, "Ma'am, while we been workin' th' pas' few days, there's been someone on th' ridge, watchin' us."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, boys. The Sheriff would be interested. I suspect that's why he hasn't been harassing us for the mortgage money; he wants to see what we are up to first."
That night the four enjoyed an excellent dinner. Even though Nora was technically a servant and made all the meals, Violette didn't treat her so. She helped Nora bring in the food and helped her clean up later. Nora, always the motherly type, hovered about to make sure everything was perfect. She finally sat down at the table with them when everyone else was served.
"Nora, I'm going out there with the boys tomorrow with Pa's rifle. Boys, there are a couple other rifles in the gun rack. I want you both armed. And Nora, you keep Pa's handgun with you all the time."
"I'll do no such thing. I don't know the first thing…"
"You'd best learn, Nora. These men are playing for keeps. I'll show you how to use it tomorrow. It's not hard and sometimes it's the threat that's more important."
After dinner, Violette brought out several rifles and handed them to the tramps. "Do you two know how to use these?"
"I do, Ma'am," said Charlie.
Harry was looking at his rifle through the wrong end, his eye up to the barrel. "Harry, no, the other way," said Violette.
"Hmmm?" said Harry. Charlie roughly pulled it away from him and turned it around. "Le' 'im blow 'is bloody fool 'ead off…" said Charlie under his breath.
"What did you say, Charlie?" asked Violette.
Charlie smiled sweetly. "Nothin', Ma'am…"
