
    ,,*APT] ,,XXV

    ,,! ,,/EEL ,,BOX
  ,P]H ! L1/ ( ALL A6ECT$ 0:AT _H TAK5
PLACE 0 ! GIANT4 ,GOLD M1NT NO?+ 6HM4
,6S]VE ,TOM ,SWIFT 0 8 :OLE AIM 9 LIFE4
,BORN 9 A SAVAGE C.TRY1 HE _H N ACQUIR$
AN OV]:ELM+ DESIRE = W1L?4
  ,3SEQU5TLY HE 0 COOL 5 Z HE TORE ANO!R
BOX F ! _M T 7 FITT$ 96! SAFE4 ,! WAT]
_H SWELL$ ! WOOD1 & X 0 N EASY 6GET !M
\4
  ,A PRESSURE (! GIANT'S IRON B> BROKE !
S1L$ LID4 ,ON TOP 0 ! SAME LAY] ( GOLD
PIECES1 B :5 ! BOX 0 EMPTI$ ! SAME TRICK
0 4COV]$4 ,IRON DISKS MADE UP ! REMA9D]
(! 3T5TS4
  8,BILK$6 ,T'S :AT ,I CALL X6 ,REGUL>LY
BILK$60 EXCLAIM$ "O (! DIV]S1 AN
,5GLI%MAN :O _H BE5 9 ,TOM'S S]VICE
S"EAL YE>S4 8,"SBODY'S GOT ! CR1M ( ?
PU4+ 2F WE DID60
  8,I'M 9CL9$ 6AGREE ) Y10 SD ,TOM4
8,UN.S X TRANSPIRES T N ALL ! BOXES H
BE5 ?US CAM\FLAG$4 ,WE M/ TAKE "T
6EXAM9E40
  ,!N 2GAN A P]IOD ( H>D "W4 ,LABOR+ 9
RELAYS ( DIV]S1 E BOX T _H BE5 LOCK$ 9 !
PURS]'S SAFE 0 BR"\ \ ON ! SUBM]G$ CAB9
TA#1 BROK5 OP51 &! 3T5TS EXAM9$4 ,! HOAX
0 EV5 WORSE ?AN 9DICAT$ AT F/4 ,= AF !
FRONT SEC;N ( BOXES _H BE5 TAK5 \ N"O (!
O!RS REMA9+ 3TA9$ ANY GOLD AT ALL4 ,"! 7
ONLY IRON DISKS4
  8,WELL1 ,TOM1 :AT D Y ?9K ( X80 ASK$
,N$ ( 8 *UM1 :5 !Y _H RETURN$ 6! CAB9 (!
SUBM>9E1 L1V+ "S MEMB]S (! CREW 6-PLETE
! EXAM9,N4 ,= ? ! DIV+ BELL 0 US$1 Z
WELL Z ! SUITS4
  8,I DON'T ?9K V M*10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,X
LOOKS Z ?\< WE _H BE5 SOLD40
  8,D Y ?9K ,H>DLEY KNEW T ! GOLD _H BE5
*ANG$ 6IRON--T IS1 ALL B A SMALL "P (
X80
  8,NO1 ,I DON'T 2LIEVE HE DID10 ,TOM
ANSW]$4 8,IF HE 7 "H ,I'D W>RANT HE WD 2
Z M* SURPRIS$ Z WE >E4 ,HE C]TA9LY
2LIEV$ ! ,P&ORA 0 A REGUL> TR1SURE-%IP40
  8,J H[ M* DID %E RE,Y H 9 GOLD80 ASK$
,MR4 ,DAMON1 LOOK+ AT ! D\# EAGLES ON !
TA# (! ,M4 ,N4 #A4
  8,WELL1 AT A R\< GUESS ,I'D SAY T5
?\S& DOLL>S10 ,TOM ANSW]$4 8,WE HAV5'T
BR"\ X ALL \ YET1 & X'S POSSI# !Y MAY
F9D A FULL BOX 9 ! SAFE4 ,B1 UN.S "! IS
"O1 ,I GUESS T5 OR FIFTE5 ?\S& DOLL>S W
COV] X40
  8,& ,H>DLEY SD TWO MILLIONS60 EXCLAIM$
,N$4 8,:EW1 :AT A DI6];E60
  8,D Y ?9K HE 0 9 ON ! *ANGE80 ASK$ "O
(! (FIC]S4
  8,NO10 REPLI$ ,TOM4 8,I GUESS X 0 L A
GD _M ( ^! FILIBU/]+ PLOTS4 ,"SBODY PUT
UP GD M"OY 6BE US$ 6GA9 3TROL (A C.TRY--
P]H =! C.TRY'S GD4 ,B "SBODY ELSE MADE !
SUB/ITU;N1 &! PATRIOTS 7 LEFT4 ,I DON'T
2LIEVE ,H>DLEY KNEW ?40
  8,WELL1 Y'LL GET A LL \ ( X1 ,TOM10
,N$ REM>K$4
  8,NO?+ WOR? :ILE10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,B ,I'M
N 4APPO9T$2 T IS1 V M*4 ,( C\RSE ,I CD
USE ! M"OY1 B ,I DON'T RE,Y NE$ X4 ,!
TRIP HAS BE5 A WOND];L EXP]I;E1 & ,I H
LE>N$ "S?+ ,I DIDN'T "K 2F4 ,I'M SORRY =
Y1 ?\<1 ,MR4 ,DAMON4 ,Y 9VE/$ 3SID]A# )
,H>DLEY1 DIDN'T Y80
  8,AB TW5TY ?\S& DOLL>S1 ,TOM4 ,X W 2
H>D 6LOSE X1 B ,I GUESS ,I C /& X40
  ,TOM PRIVATELY MADE UP 8 M9D 6SEE T 8
OLD FR DID N SU6] F9ANCI,Y1 =! GOLD
4COV]$ ON ! ,P&ORA1 :ILE X 0 F> F ! AM.T
HOP$ =1 WD ALM REIMBURSE ,MR4 ,DAMON4 ,B
! "Y 9V5TOR DID N SAY ANY?+ AB T J !N4
  ,!Y 7 LOOK+ AT ! RECOV]$ GOLD & GETT+
R1DY 6/ORE X 9 "S (! BOXES T _H BE5 BR"\
F ! WRECK :5 ! DIV]S T _H REMA9$ ON !
,P&ORA 6BR+ ! LA/ (! TR1SURE RETURN$ "?
! *AMB]4 ,TWO ( !M C>RI$ A SMALL /EEL
BOX4
  8,:AT'S T80 ASK$ ,TOM1 :5 !Y _H _!
HELMETS (F4
  8,DON'T "K10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,X 0 9 !
PURS]'S SAFE4 ,/UCK AWAY 9 ! F> CORN]40
  8,MAYBE X HAS JEWELS 9 X60 EXCLAIM$
,N$4 8,IF X HAS--0
  ,AT T MO;T ! LOOK\T :O _H MA9TA9$ 8
POSI;N 9 ! CONN+ T[] CALL$ = ,TOM ON !
TELEPH"O4
  8,:AT IS X80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4
  8,"!'S "S SORT ( GRAPPL+ IRON1 OR CA#
)A HOOK ON X1 2+ L[]$ F ! SURFACE1 & X'S
NE> ! WRECK10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,IF X ISN'T
ANY ( YR APP>ATUS X MAY 2 "S O!R %IP
HAV+ A TRY =! GOLD40
  8,X M/ 2 ,H>DLEY60 CRI$ ,TOM4 8,HE'S
-E BACK ) ANO!R %IP1 Z HE HALF ?R1T5$
6D1 &1 9/1D ( DIV+ =! WRECK1 : HE C'T
GET ORD9>Y M5 6D 9 ? DEP?1 HE'S TRY+
6GRAPPLE = X4 ,-E ON1 WE'LL H A LOOK60
  ,N$ & ,MR4 ,DAMON FOLL[$ ,TOM 6! CONN+
T[]4 ,LOOK+ \ "? ! H1VY GLASS W9D[S1
:ILE ! SE>*LI<T ILLUM9AT$ ! WAT]S1 ! "Y
9V5TOR & 8 FRS SAW A GRT GRAPPL+ IRON
SWAY+ ? WAY & T "? ! SEA N F> F ! WRECK1
& ONCE1 9DE$1 UNCOM=TABLY CLOSE 6_! [N
CRAFT4
  8,HE'S /RUCK X UNCOMMONLY NE>10 REM>K$
,TOM4 8,I GUESS X'S "T = U 6BE L1V+40
  8,SUPPOSE X'S ,H>DLEY UP ABV "!80
SU7E/$ ,N$4
  8,I DON'T D\BT B X IS40
  8,WELL1 >E WE GO+ (F & L1VE ! WRECK--&
POSSIBLY O!R GOLD T MAY 2 HI45 ON H]80
  8,I WDN'T GIVE T5 DOLL>S =! *.E (
SE>*+ = ANY M GOLD60 ,TOM EXCLAIM$4
8,WE'LL TAKE ? /EEL BOX--X MAY 3TA9 "S?+
( VALUE4 ,! RE/ WE'LL L1VE 6,H>DLEY40
  ,PREP>,NS = RIS+ 6! SURFACE 7 QKLY
MADE4 ,UP & UP W5T ! ,M4 ,N4 #A1 L1V+ !
ILL-/>R$ ,P&ORA 6:AT"E ELSE FATE _H 9
/ORE = H]4
  ,TOM'S CRAFT BROKE WAT] ) G5TLE
UNDUL,NS (! WAVES4 ,! TOP (! HAT* 0 ?R[N
BACK1 ADMITT+ ! B"R SUN%9E ON ^? :O _H
BE5 L;G 9 ! %AD[ (! "US1S4 ,&1 Z ! "Y
9V5TOR & 8 FRS W5T \ ON DECK1 !Y SAW A
SMALL /1M] RID+ ON ! OC1N N F> AWAY4
  ,"O LOOK 0 5 6TELL !M X 0 F ? CRAFT T
! GRAPPL+ IRON _H BE5 LET D[N1 & Z !
SUBM>9E DRIFT$ NE>] ! =M ( ,H>DLEY 0 SE5
ON DECK4 ,HE 0 DIRECT+ OP],NS4
  ,"S "O M/ H CALL$ 8 ATT5;N 6! ,M4 ,N4
#A1 = HE HURRI$ 6! RAIL (! CRAFT : HE _H
EVID5TLY *>T]$ 6SEEK ! ,P&ORA1 & HE
EXCLAIM$3
  8,:AT >E Y DO+ "H1 ,SWIFT80
  8,! SAME ?+ Y >E1 ,I 2LIEVE10 COOLLY
ANSW]$ ,TOM4 8,CL1N+ UP ! TR1SURE %IP4
,Y MI<T Z WELL SAVE YR M"OY ?\<1 = WE H
ALL ! GOLD "! IS60
  8,IMPOSSI#60 CRI$ ! N[ IRATE MAN4 8,Y
_C H F.D ! ,P&ORA60
  8,T'S J :AT WE DID1 ?\<10 ANSW]$ ,TOM4
8,&1 = YR 9=M,N1 ,I'LL SAY T WE TOOK ALL
! GOLD WE F.D1 ?\< X 0 3SID]ABLY LESS
?AN Y /AT$40
  8,H[ D>E Y80 /ORM$ ! ADV5TUR]4 8,I'LL
H ! LAW ON Y = ?60
  8,I GUESS Y =GET10 REPLI$ ,TOM1 8T WE
"P$ -PANY AT YR REQUE/ & T ,I TOLD Y ,I
0 ON MY [N4 ,F9D+ IS KEEP+4 ,I DIDN'T
F9D :AT ,I EXPECT$ TO1 &1 ON ! O!R H&1
,I GOT "S?+ ,I DIDN'T LOOK =40

8,:AT D Y M1N

  8,! ,P&ORA 0 "RLY "ND10 W5T ON ,TOM4
8,IF Y RECALL ! OLD /ORY1 ,P&ORA _H A
BOX ( TR1SURES4 ,!Y ALL FLEW \ EXCEPT
,HOPE1 : REMA9$ 9 ! BOTTOM4 ,WELL1 MO/
(! GOLD SEEMS 6H FL[N AWAY1 B WE F.D A
BOX ON ! ,P&ORA4 ,:AT'S 9 X ,I DON'T "K
YET1 Z ,I HAV5'T OP5$ X4 ,/1 IF X
DOESN'T 3TA9 M ?AN ,HOPE ,I % 2
4APPO9T$40
  ,! FACE ( ,H>DLEY %[$ ! RAGE FELT4
  8,GIVE ME T BOX6 ,GIVE ME T BOX60 HE
CRI$1 %AK+ 8 FI/ AT ,TOM4
  8,N TD10 0 ! COOL ANSW] (! "Y 9V5TOR4
8,I MAY LET Y "K :AT ,I F9D 9 X IF Y
L1VE YR A4RESS4 ,GDBYE60
  ,TOM WAV$ 8 H&1 GAVE ORD]S 6CLOSE !
HAT*ES & SUBM]GE ! ,M4 ,N4 #A1 &A FEW
MO;TS LAT] ! SEA CLOS$ OV] H]1 L1V+ !
O!R VESSEL 6GRAPPLE USE.SLY =!
TR1SURE-%IP4
  8,:AT >E Y GO+ 6D1 ,TOM80 ASK$ ,N$ ( 8
*UM1 Z !Y 7 ALL GA!R$ 9 ! MA9 CAB9 HALF
AN H\R LAT]4
  8,H1D = HOME Z SOON Z WE C4 ,I'VE _H 5
( ?1 & ,I WANT 6GET AT "S?+ ELSE ,I H 9
M9D4 ,B F/ ,I'M GO+ 6SEE :AT'S 9 ? BOX40
  ,X REQUIR$ ! /R5G? ( ,KOKU 6OP5 !
SMALL /EEL BOX1 B :5 X 0 TORN A"P1 =!
-B9,N 0 IMPOSSI# 6GUESS AT1 ALL T 0 SE5
7 BUNDLES ( PAP]S4 ,! CASE HAV+ BE5
H]METIC,Y CLOS$1 NO WAT] _H P5ETRAT$ X1
?\< X _H BE5 SUBM]G$ A L;G "T4
  8,:AT >E !Y80 ASK$ ,N$ ( 8 *UM4
  ,TOM DID N ANSW] =A MO;T4 ,!N HAV+
QKLY EXAM9$ ! PAP]S1 HE CRI$3
  8,WE'VE /RUCK X60
  8,:AT80 !Y ALL WANT$ 6"K4
  8,! V ?+ ,H>DLEY 0 AF4 ,^! >E ! MISS+
PAP]S 9 ! OIL-WELL D1L--! PAP]S T PROVE
,B>TON ,KEI? HAS A HALF %>E 9 PROP]TY
WOR? _M MILLIONS ( DOLL>S4 ,X 0 ^! PAP]S
T ,H>DLEY 0 AF4 ,HE MAY H ?"\ HE CD GET
! GOLD1 TOO1 B HE WANT$ MO/ ^! OIL %>ES4
,BOYS1 WE'VE F.D ! =TUNE ANYH[1 9 SPITE
(! FELL[S :O LOOT$ ! GOLD BOXES60
  ,"! 0 NO D\BT AB X4 ,"! 7 ALL ! PAP]S
--! C]TIFICATES ( %>ES1 ! "PN]%IP
AGREE;T & O!R DOCU;TS--6%[ T ,M>Y'S
UNCLE 0 A RI* MAN4 ,! WRECK (! ,P&ORA
HELD A =TUNE AF ALL4
  8,H[ D Y A3.T = ,H>DLEYS ACTS80 ASK$
,N$ ( 8 *UM4
  8,WELL1 "! >E S"EAL EXPLAN,NS4 ,I ?9K
WE MAY 2 C]TA9 T HE KNEW ^! PAP]S 7
ABO>D ! ,P&ORA1 = HE M/ H 9TRU/$ !M 6!
PURS] HMF :5 HE MADE A TRIP ON ! %IP4
,:5 %E SANK HE _H N "T 6GET !M 6TAKE )
HM40
  8,HE EI KNEW !N1 OR F.D \ LAT]1 T !
VESSEL C>RI$1 OR 0 SUPPOS$ 6C>RY1 A L>GE
AM.T ( GOLD4 ,HE MAY H BE5 H"O/LY
MISTAK5 9 ?9K+ X 0 TWO MILLIONS4 ,9 ANY
CASE HE 0 PLAY+ SAFE1 = HE ONLY PROMIS$
ME HALF IF ! TR1SURE 0 F.D4 ,HE CD H
CLAIM$ ? BOX Z 8 PROP]TY1 & T IS
PROBABLY :AT HE 0 AF F ! 2G9N+4 ,HE 0
US+ ME Z A CAT'S PAW1 S 6SP1K40
  8,WELL1 Y B1T HM 6X10 OBS]V$ ,N$4
  8,B.S MY NECKTIE1 ,I %D SAY S60 AGRE$
,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,D Y ?9K HE RE,Y EXPECT$
6F9D ! GOLD80
  8,EI T OR ! PAP]S10 0 ,TOM'S ANSW]4
8,HE M/ H 5GAG$ ! VESSEL &! GRAPPL+
APP>ATUS1 &1 POSSIBLY1 A DIV]1 AF WE SET
HM A%ORE AT ,/4 ,?OMAS4 ,WELL1 WE'LL
L1VE HM 6HIS [N FUN40
  ,! ,M4 ,N4 #A MADE GD "T BACK 6H] HOME
PORT1 NO?+ EXCEPT A T]RIFIC /ORM O3URR+
6M>K ! VOYAGE4 ,& Z %E SUBM]G$ :5 T 0 ON
%E DID N FEEL X4 ,AF GREET+ 8 "F1 ,TOM
LO/ LL "T 9 GO+ 6,M>Y'S H\SE )! BOX (
SECURITIES & O!R PAP]S4
  8,I WANT Y 6H& ^! 6YR UNCLE ) MY
-PLI;TS10 HE SD4 8,I'VE GOT ! ,AIR ,SC\T
\ 9 ! M1D[4 ,WE'LL G OV] 9 T4 ,H[ IS
,MR4 ,KEI?80
  8,N V WELL10 ,M>Y ANSW]$1 AF %E _H GOT
OV] H] SURPRISE AT SEE+ ,TOM4 8,B ? GD
NEWS W RE/ORE HM1 ,I ?9K40
  ,& X C]TA9LY 0 A GRT TONIC4 ,MR4 ,KEI?
CD H>DLY 2LIEVE ! /ORY T ,M>Y & ,TOM
JO9TLY TOLD HM4 ,B AT L5G? HE GRASP$ !
IDEA T HE 0 A W1L?Y MAN AG1 & HE
EXCLAIM$3
  8,TOM ,SWIFT1 ,I'M GO+ 6%>E HALF ) Y60
  8,OH1 NO10 RETORT$ ! "Y 9V5TOR4 8,I
CDN'T ?9K ( T4 ,IF Y WANT 6PAY "P (!
EXP5SES (! TRIP ,I %AN'T OBJECT 6T1 Z ,I
9T5D GIV+ ! GOLD ,I RECOV]$ 6,MR4
,DAMON4 ,B Z = TAK+ ANY (! OIL %>ES--0
  8,!N1 ,M>Y1 Y % TAKE HALF60 EXCLAIM$
,MR4 ,KEI?4 8,I H M M"OY N[ ?AN ,I'LL "E
SP5D4 ,M>Y1 HALF ( X IS YRS1 & IF Y
DON'T LET ,TOM ,SWIFT H A SAY 9 ! SP5D+
( X--,SAY1 ,M>Y1 H Y ?ANK$ HM YET80 HE
ASK$ )A TW9KLE ( 8 EYES4 8,WELL1 ,UNCLE
,B>TON1 ,I--,I DON'T "K--0
  8,!N D X N[60 CRI$ H] UNCLE4 8,TOM1 IF
Y CD H ANY REW>D Y WANT$1 :AT WD X BE80
  ,TOM TOOK ,M>Y 9 8 >MS &--,B ,I REFUSE
62TRAY ANY SECRETS4 ,ANYH[1 "S "T LAT]
:5 ,N$ ASK$ 8 *UM IF HE
FELT 5TIRELY SATISFI$ )! RESULT ( 8
"USEA SE>*1 ! "Y 9V5TOR REPLI$3 8,I
C]TA9LY D60
  ,TOM ADMITT$ 6HIS "F T A MISTAKE _H
BE5 MADE 9 N 9/ALL+ ! GYROSCOPE RU4]4
,"! 0 NO EXCUSE = N TAK+ X4 ,TOM DCLD1 Z
X 0 SMALL & TOOK UP LL ROOM1 & X MI<T H
SAV$ !M F :AT 0 A CLOSE CALL AT "O "T4
  8,I'LL TAKE X ON MY NEXT SUBM>9E
TRIP10 ! "Y 9V5TOR PROMIS$4
  ,N$ WANT$ 6BR+ SUIT AG/ ,H>DLEY
6RECOV] HALF ! EXP5SES (! TRIP1 B ,TOM
WD N 3S5T 6X4 ,AF ALL1 ! VALUE (! OIL
WELL PROP]TY 0 M ?AN ! GOLD ! ,P&ORA 0
REPUT$ 6H C>RI$4 ,NO ATTEMPT 0 MADE
6TAKE F ,TOM ! -P>ATIVELY SMALL AM.T HE
_H SALVAG$4 ,P]H :O"E _H PUT X ON BO>D
DID N WANT 6ADMIT ! TRICK T _H BE5 PLAY$
9 FILL+ ! BOXES ) IRON DISKS4
  ,DIXWELL ,H>DLEY MADE NO FUR!R TR\#4
,HE CD N1 = HE 0 S 5TIRELY 9 ! WR;G4 ,HE
SOLD \ 8 %>ES 9 ! OIL PROP]TY1 &A -PANY
TOOK POSSES.N : GAVE FAIR TR1T;T 6,M>Y'S
UNCLE4
  ,& ? IS ! 5D (! /ORY4 ,B ! FUTURE
HOLDS FUR!R ADV5TURES = ,TOM ,SWIFT :1
LET X 2 HOP$1 HE W SEE FIT 6ORD]
RECORD$4


















