Chapter 24 The Quest of the Missing Map by Carolyn Keene
Adventure by Night
Nancy’s plan was a simple one. She proposed to wait until after dark, then steal to the island to make an investigation.
“Where does Mr. Heyborn live?” she asked Ned. “He must have a house somewhere in the woods.”
“It’s a large place,” the other replied. “We saw it from a distance while we were chasing Spike and Snorky.”
“Then why not go there and see what we can learn?” Nancy urged. “We might take Bill Tomlin with us.”
Ellen, who was somewhat timid, did not care to be included in such an adventure. Bill, however, was enthusiastic, so it was decided the three of them would leave the Primrose shortly.
After those aboard had seated themselves to wait, Nancy, Ned and Bill quietly launched a boat. With muffled oars they rowed to the beach. The night was an ideal one for their purpose, dark and still. Thick clouds scudded overhead, obscuring the moon.
“No sign of anyone around,” Ned whispered as the boat grated on the beach. “All the same, it will pay us to be on our guard.”
After hiding their craft, the young people moved stealthily through the tropical woods. Presently they came to a worn path which led them to a large one-story house made of palmetto logs.
“That’s the place,” Ned told his companions. “Now what is our move?”
Before Nancy could answer, the moon came out from behind a cloud. Quickly she and her companions ducked behind a bush, remaining there until darkness shrouded them once more.
“Somehow we must peer inside that house,” Nancy whispered to the two young men. “I suspect that the real owner may have been overpowered by this rascal who calls himself Mr. Heyborn.”
“We’re in a rather risky business,” Ned warned her as they crept forward. “Think I dare flash a light?”
“Better keep it off until we see what we’re running into,” Bill advised in an undertone.
Moving to the rear of the house, the three paused beside a window. Nancy pressed her face against the screen, trying to see what was inside.
“Let me have your flashlight, Ned,” she whispered. “I think someone is lying on the bed.”
“Have a care,” the youth warned as he gave her the light. “It may be Heyborn.”
Nancy flashed the beam, drawing in her breath at the sight revealed within. A sleeping woman lay on a bed, her ankle chained to one of the posts!
Horrified, Nancy raised the screen and called softly. At first the figure did not stir. When the woman did lift her head from the pillow it was to whimper with fear.
“Don’t be afraid!” the girl called in a soothing voice. “We’re here to help you.”
“Set me free!” the woman pleaded pitifully. “My husband and my son are prisoners too!”
Ned hoisted Nancy through the window so that she could talk with less fear of discovery. He and Bill waited outside, keeping an alert watch.
“Are you Mrs. Heyborn?” Nancy asked as she reached the bedside.
“Yes,” the woman murmured. “Two cruel men landed here three days ago in a boat. They accepted our hospitality and then made us prisoners. My husband and son are chained in other rooms.”
“What became of the boat? We saw nothing of it when we landed.”
“It sailed away,” Mrs. Heyborn revealed. “I heard one of the men—he calls himself Spike—say it would be back in a day or two. Oh, please set me free! I’m so wretchedly uncomfortable.”
Examining the woman’s fetters, Nancy saw that she could not hope to release her without the key to the padlock.
“Have courage,” she comforted the woman. “I can’t set you free now, but I’ll be back.”
Tiptoeing to the window, she rejoined Bill and Ned, telling them everything she had learned.
“Someone came here with Spike Doty impersonating the real owner of the island,” she concluded her story. “We must capture that man and see if he has the key to Mrs. Heyborn’s locked chain.”
“Wonder where we’ll find him?” Bill asked, gazing at the darkened house. “He must be sleeping here somewhere.”
At the rear of the building was a screened porch which the young people had barely noticed. As they walked around the house they saw that a cot had been set up in the enclosure. A man was stretched out there.
“Say, that must be the fellow!” Ned whispered to his companions. “If we’re quiet we can take him without a struggle!”
Making no sound, the three opened the door of the porch and slipped inside. Ned took a rope from his pocket and bound the man. The startled prisoner, awakening, struggled to a sitting position. Nancy made a surprising observation.
“Mr. Bellows!” she exclaimed. “I thought I had seen you before, but your hat hid your face on the beach so I couldn’t be sure.”
The man tried to break free but Ned and Bill held him securely. Searching his pockets, they turned over various keys to Nancy. The girl sped to set Mrs. Heyborn and her family free.
Her husband proved to be a decided contrast to Bullseye Bellows, the pretended owner of the island. Mr. Heyborn could not thank Nancy and her friends enough for setting them free. When the entire story was told, he assured them that he would not withhold the Tomlin treasure hunt.
“Dig to your hearts’ content,” he urged the group generously. “My wife and I came here to enjoy a peaceful existence. I am a naturalist, connected with the American Museum, and have been studying the flora of the island. All I ask is the privilege of continuing my work.”
With Spike Doty, Snorky and Bellows in captivity, Nancy believed that there would be no further trouble. A wireless message would be sent to government officials, requesting that a boat be dispatched to take charge of the three men, inasmuch as the latest prisoner was being taken to the Primrose.
Nancy decided to return to the yacht so that she might question the man. On the way Bellows admitted that he had learned of the treasure from the first mate of the Warwick. The ship’s officer had stolen Captain John Tomlin’s copy of the half-section of the parchment, only to lose it. When dying, he had told the tale to Bellows. The only word he could remember on the paper was “Palm.” He also said he had just learned the whereabouts of one of the twins, now known as Tomlin Smith. Accordingly Bellows had called upon Ellen’s father, offering him money to part with his section of the map.
At this point in the man’s account the Primrose was reached. It was decided that the rest of the explanation must wait, for dawn was showing in the sky and the adventurers needed sleep. The coming day was to be an eventful one for Nancy and her friends!
The girl fell into heavy slumber from which she did not awaken when others on the yacht began to stir about. As usual, Trixie was the first one up, begging both Ellen and her mother to dress and go ashore.
“I want to dig for the treasure,” the little girl said. She reached under her bunk and drew forth a small pail and shovel. She kept looking into the former and smiling. “I got a map. I want to dig,” she cried.
So insistent did Trixie become, that as soon as she had eaten her breakfast Mrs. Chatham suggested the first boatloads of diggers go to the island.
“But you won’t start work without Nancy!” exclaimed Ellen.
“Oh, no,” replied the widow. “Just enough to satisfy Trixie. But I hope Nancy won’t sleep too long!”
It was decided that Mr. Smith should go. The sea air had improved his condition so much that he now was able to get about on crutches. When the group reached Little Palm the child said proudly to him:
“Did you bring your map? I brought mine.”
Thereupon she showed everyone a paper in her pail, saying she had got it out of a drawer in the Drew girl’s cabin. The child was scolded for her act by her mother, and when she began to cry Mr. Smith tried to comfort her by showing his copy of half the old map which he had in a pocket.
“Let’s dig,” insisted Trixie. “You find the place and I’ll use my shovel.”
More to please the child than for any other reason, Tomlin Smith had Tom More pace off the distances from his directions. At the appointed spot Trixie drove her tiny shovel into the earth. At once it bent double and the little girl began to wail.
“I’ll help you,” offered good-natured Tom, getting a spade. After a moment’s digging he exclaimed, “I’ve struck something! Can it be the treasure?”