"Yes," the Phoenix continued, "we both know that you have passed through perilous times, through dangers which (I must confess) would have left _me_ a shattered wreck." The Sea Monster sighed sadly, but its whiskers were beginning to rise again. "The Monster bears up very well under this fearful strain--don't you think so, my boy? A splendid example for the rest of us. Magnificent." The Sea Monster's whiskers were quivering with pleasure. "Monster, old chap, old friend, you were never one to let a boon companion down. If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times: 'The Sea Monster,' I have said, 'the Sea Monster is the helpful sort. Mention the words Staunch Friend,' I have said, 'and immediately the Sea Monster comes to mind.'" The Phoenix reached up one wing and began to pat the Sea Monster's flipper. "Monster, old chum, we--ah--we--Well, the plain fact is that we--ah--we have need of--such a trifling matter" (here the Phoenix gave a careless laugh) "that I should not really bring it up at all. Ah--we need a bit of money." "Oh," said the Sea Monster. Its whiskers sagged. "Now, please do not be offended, Monster," said the Phoenix hastily. "After all, you have no need for the treasure, and it does absolutely no good buried under the ground." "It doesn't do any harm there, either," said the Sea Monster. "Really, Phoenix, I never thought _you_--" "Monster," said the Phoenix solemnly, "_this_--is a matter of life or death." "Life or death--ha!" "Please, Monster," said David. "It really is life or death, because the Scientist is chasing the Phoenix, and the Phoenix has a plan to escape him, and we need some money to carry out the plan so the Scientist can't hurt the Phoenix." "A few small coins will do," added the Phoenix, with a winning smile. "A louis d'or, for example, or some pieces of eight. After which you may bury the rest again." "_Please_, Monster!" David begged. The Monster looked at David, and at the Phoenix, and then at David again, and then at the lagoon. It sighed a very doubtful sigh. "Oh ... all right," it said reluctantly. "But for goodness sake, don't go telling anyone where you found it." "Of course not," said the Phoenix. And David leaped up and shouted "Hooray!" and grabbed the spade and his jacket. "The stuff is on the next island," said the Sea Monster. "I can swim over with you two on my back. This way, please--we have to leave from the outer beach." The Sea Monster was a magnificent swimmer. Its neck cut through the water like the stem of a Viking ship, and it left a frothing wake behind. Every once in a while it would plunge its head into the water and come up with a fish, which it would swallow whole. "Should you like some breakfast, David?" said the Sea Monster. [Illustration] "No, thank you," David answered, "but you go right ahead. Phoenix," he added, "what _are_ you doing?"