We started away from that reunion at about five o’clock at night and everybody was sorry to see us go. Those scouts, and the Uncle Tom’s Cabin people, and a lot of old veterans, all crowded around us to say good-by. They said we were a wide-awake bunch, but if they could have seen us about four hours later they wouldn’t have said so. We made a camp alongside the road, and I cooked supper, and then most of us slept in the van. While we were sitting around our camp-fire, Brent took out that mysterious paper that he had found in the scarecrow’s pocket, and he kind of winked at Harry as if he was going to spring a great surprise on us. He looked awful funny in the light of the fire; just like a real live scarecrow—I mean a dead one. He said, “Scouts of the victorious legion, while we are resting after the bloody battle of Grumpy’s Cross-roads, I have a dark communication to make to you. Excuse me while I get in a better light.” “I thought you said it was a _dark_ communication,” Pee-wee shouted. Brent said, “Well, it’s a kind of a dim communication. Only two scouts and our trusty leader know about it. They have kept their lips sealed. I wish now, by the light of this camp-fire, to ask you one and all, if you are ready to undertake an enterprise that is fraught with mortal peril?” “Is it fraught with anything to eat?” Will Dawson wanted to know. “Isn’t mortal peril good enough for you?” Pee-wee shouted. Gee whiz, some fellows are never satisfied. Brent said, “Comrades, when I put an end to the career of that miserable scarecrow and, with a single stroke, made millions of crows happy, I found in the pocket of his frock-coat a mysterious paper. More than that, I know who that frock-coat belonged to before he had it. It belonged to Deacon Snookbeck of Barrow’s Homestead! _Ha, ha_,—and a couple of _he, he’s_!” “Read the paper!” they all began shouting, He said, “Silence. While traveling with Scout Harris, and patrol leader Blakeley, I met a stranger who told us that several years ago Deacon Snookbeck had two mysterious visitors in his house. Whether this paper that I am about to read to you has any connection with those strangers, I cannot say. I am not skilled in high grade mysteries, being only a plain, ordinary burglar and thug——” “You larcenied!” Pee-wee shouted. Brent put his hand on his forehead and said, awful funny, “Don’t remind me of my crimes.” “Read the paper,” Rossie Bent said. So then Brent read the paper, and I have to admit that it sounded pretty mysterious and I guess, after all his fooling, that he thought so himself. Snake Creek, North shore from Ohio R. to Skeleton Cove. Top of S Cove. Follow line due north from willow. Cons to west. Stake. Measure ninety-two feet along north line, then follow line due NW through T.W. Stake. Treasure at HW limit, indicated at AN Stake. Follow S line south to pie.