Captain Jules reached over and set the priceless box before Madge. She was encircled by Miss Jenny Ann and her beloved houseboat chums. "It is all yours, Madge," asserted Captain Jules solemnly. "You found it, child. I should never have discovered it but for you." Madge shook her red-brown head. "Captain Jules, that chest is far more yours than it is mine. I should never have gone down under the water but for you. If Phil had only dived first, instead of me, she would have found it, I won't have any of the money or the jewelry unless I can share it with the rest of you." Then, to Madge's own surprise, she began to cry. "There, there, little mate, it will be all right," Captain Jules assured her quietly. "You've had a bit too much for one day. We don't know the value of what we have found just yet, but the old jewelry will make pretty trinkets for you girls. We'll see about the rest later on." Miss Jenny Ann put her arm about Madge on one side. Phil was on the other side of her chum. "We will go home now, dear," said Miss Jenny Ann to Madge. "You are worn out from all this excitement." "I'll look after the girls, Captain," promised Tom Curtis quietly, "then I will come back to you." A flash of understanding passed between Captain Jules and Tom Curtis. They had both guessed that Madge's iron box of old jewelry and coins represented more money than the girls could comprehend, and that it was better for the news of the discovery to be kept as quiet as possible for the time being. "You will walk home with me, won't you, Philip?" Mrs. Curtis asked her guest. "I am rather tired from the excitement of this most unusual morning." But Philip Holt had forgotten that he wished to keep on the good side of his wealthy hostess. His eyes were staring eagerly and greedily at the closed iron box which old Captain Jules was guarding. He took a step forward, stopped and looked at the little crowd standing near. "No; I can't go back with you now, Mrs. Curtis," he answered abruptly, "I have some important business to transact." Mrs. Curtis walked away deeply offended. Philip Holt, however, was too fully occupied with his own disappointment to note this. A sudden daring idea had taken possession of him. Perhaps Madge Morton was not so lucky after all. Finding a treasure did not necessarily mean keeping it. CHAPTER XVIII MISSING, A FAIRY GODMOTHER Several days after the finding of the treasure-chest experts came down from Philadelphia to appraise its value. It was not easy to decide, immediately, what market price the old jewels, set in quaintly chased gold, would bring. But the least that the coins and stones would be worth was ten thousand dollars! It might be more. An extra thousand dollars or so was hardly worth considering, when ten thousand would make things turn out so beautifully even. Madge and Captain Jules, Miss Jenny Ann and the other houseboat girls had many discussions about Madge's discovery of the iron safe.