Madge lowered her voice to a whisper. "Dear Captain Jules," she said in a wheedling tone, "you'll help me, won't you? The girls and Miss Jenny Ann declare positively that they won't accept a single dollar of the money. I shall be the most miserable girl in the world if they don't. Why, we four girls and Miss Jenny Ann have shared everything in common, our misfortunes and our good fortunes, since we started out together. If any one of the other girls had happened to discover the treasure instead of me, she would certainly have divided it with the others. Phil, Lillian, Eleanor and Miss Jenny Ann don't even dare to deny it. So they simply must give in to me about it." "Well," continued the captain, "I am yet to be told what Madge Morton means to do with the one-sixth of one-half of her wealth when it finally gets round to her." The little captain's eyes shone, though her face sobered. "I am not going to college with Phil, though I hate to be parted from her," she replied. "Somehow, I think I am not exactly meant for a college girl. I believe I will just advertise in all the papers in the world for my father. Then, if he is alive, I shall surely find him. With whatever money is left I shall go to him. If he is poor, I will manage to take care of him in some way," ended Madge confidently. "You will, eh?" returned Captain Jules gruffly. "It seems to me, my girl, that this is a pretty position you have mapped out for me. I am to take half of our find--nice, selfish old codger that I am--while you divide yours with your friends. I am not going to take a cent of that money, so you can just do your sums over again." It was at this point that Madge called Miss Jenny Ann and the other houseboat girls into the discussion. It ended with the captain's agreeing to take one-seventh of the money, if all the others would follow suit. "Because, if you don't," declared Madge in her usual impetuous fashion, "I shall just throw this chest of money and jewelry right overboard and it can go down to the bottom of the bay and stay there, for all I care." Captain Jules remained to dinner on the houseboat that evening. After dinner the girls proceeded to adorn themselves with the old sets of jewelry found in the safe. Madge wore the pearls because, she insisted, they were her special jewels, and she had gone down to the bottom of the bay to find them. Phil was more fascinated with some old-fashioned garnets, Lillian with a big, golden topaz pin, and Eleanor with some turquoises that had turned a curious greenish color from old age.