"Jest step out, Allen, and get all the keys we have an' we'll see if any of 'em fit," he directed. Drew did so, and returned in a moment with the entire collection that the shop boasted. Tyke tried them all in turn, but none fitted. "I guess there's no help for it," he said at last. "I hate to spoil the box, but we'll have to force the lock. Get a chisel, and we'll pry the thing open." The chisel was brought and did its work promptly. There was a rasping, groaning sound, as if the box were complaining at this rude assault upon its privacy, then, with a hand that trembled a little, Tyke lifted the cover. All three heads were close together as the men bent over and peered in. Their first glimpse brought a sense of disappointment. They had half expected to catch the sheen of gold or the glitter of jewels. Instead they saw only a piece of oilskin that was carefully wrapped about what proved to be some sheets of paper almost as stiff as parchment. "Huh," grunted Tyke. "Pesky lot of trouble with mighty little result. I told you I thought Manuel was a bit touched in the brain, an' I guess I was right." "Wait a minute," said Captain Hamilton. "Don't go off at half-cock. Let's see what's in that oil-skin." Tyke opened the packet. The others drew up their chairs, one on either side, as he unfolded the oilskin carefully on his desk. There were two sheets of paper inside, so old and mildewed that they had to be handled carefully to prevent their falling to pieces. One of the papers seemed to be an official statement written in Spanish. The other consisted of rude tracings, moving apparently at random, with here and there a word that was almost illegible. The three men looked at this blankly. Drew was the first to speak. "It's a map!" he exclaimed eagerly. CHAPTER VII A MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT The two captains scanned the document closely. "It certainly is a map," pronounced Captain Hamilton decisively. "That's what it 'pears to be," admitted Tyke. "And it's the map of an island," went on Hamilton. "See," he pointed out, "these wavy lines are meant to represent water and these firmer lines stand for the land." The others followed the movement of his finger and agreed with him. "Well, after all, what of it?" asked Tyke, leaning back in his chair with affected indifference. "There's this of it," said his visitor throwing his extinguished cigar into the waste-basket and drawing his chair still closer. "I feel that we have a mystery on our hands, and we should examine it fore and aft to find what there is in it." "I s'pose the next thing you'll be saying is that's it's a guide to hidden treasure or something like that," jeered Tyke feebly, to conceal his own growing excitement. "Stranger things than that have happened," replied the captain sententiously. "Have it your own way," assented Tyke, rising and going to the door. "Winters," he called, "jest remember that I'm not in to anybody for the rest of the afternoon."