Chapter Fourteen (Treasure Hunt)

I hate baths, I don't know why Jonathan insists that I must have one. I tolerate it because I love him, but I am reprieved because the water isn't working. Yippee! That makes me a happy dog. I secretly follow Carolyn who says she is going upstairs to work on the pipes. I guess water goes through them. While she is trying to work Captain shows up and bothers her. She taunts Captain and he decides to help, but I laugh to myself when he makes things worse.

Carolyn gets the Scared One called Claymore back to the house, and asks him to fix it. I watch him all the way in, I do not trust him. Jonathan tries to scare him, and it is not hard to do. Claymore does not want to fix the house, and both Carolyn and Captain are unhappy about this. They both try to trick him, but Captain has better tricks. I see him drawing on paper, and he calls it a treasure map.

"Come in my friend, come in. You are privileged to be watching an artist at work, sir. Through the use of the basic elements, fire and earth, we have here, a treasure map. Buried treasure."

I bark. Treasure? Why?

"Why do you do this you ask? To maneuver Claymore Gregg into making much needed repairs on Gull Cottage. Where your mistress attempts to achieve this goal by playing on the fool's vanity I shall accomplish the same end faster and more efficiently by taking full advantage of his unceasing greed."

I stare at him.

You will torment the Scared One?

He nods.

Then it is a good plan. I do not like him.

The Captain smiles at me. "Now my furry friend, let us put the plan into operation, shall we?"

I bark.

"Thank you, I think it was brilliant too."

I see Captain put the treasure map next to Claymore and Jonathan. They are busy trying to fix the pipes. Jonathan finds it and they get excited. My pal is smart and doesn't let Claymore take all the money. There is a reason I like Jonathan. I watch them and laugh to myself, they are so excited. There is no treasure, Captain is playing a good trick on them!

The Scared One works on the flagstones and finds another piece of paper, another treasure map. How does Captain get the maps in these places without digging up everything? The paper tells them to go to what is called the trellis, then Claymore works there. I think Captain has a good plan.

Carolyn calls Captain to her room and tells him she won their bet. Not sure what a bet is but they argue about it. She sees pal Jonathan and me with Claymore and calls the boy up. I keep an eye on Claymore so that he doesn't cheat my pal out of what he is doing. They find a big box in the big hole and they are excited. The Scared One wants it all to himself and carries Jonathan away. Taking matters into my own paws I jump on the box and announce it to everyone. The family comes back and we find the treasure is not much of anything. Claymore is disappointed, Captain looks pleased, and I laugh.

Carolyn works late tonight and Captain complains about it, but he is not too upset. He growls more than anything, but it is a good natured growl. I am an expert on this because I am a terrier.