"What I mean to say is this: If you make a search for the 'San Philipo' treasure, promise me that I can go too." "Bless the boy!" ejaculated Uncle Herbert. "What does he mean?" "The possibility of a search is very remote," said my father, "as we have absolutely no definite information to work upon, and no likelihood of gaining any; but I really don't understand what you mean by the word 'bargain.'" "I mean," I replied stoutly, "that if I find a key to the cipher, do I take part in the search?" "I see no reason why you shouldn't if----" "Then you promise?" "Yes." "Thanks," I replied, flourishing the paper I held in my hand. Chapter V A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE "EXPLAIN yourself, you young rascal," exclaimed my uncle, gripping me by the shoulder in his excitement. In reply I handed over my solution, explaining in a few words the principle of the magic square. For a few moments neither of them spoke. The pater, seizing a ruler, made a rough pencil mark on a chart of the Pacific that lay on the table; then, bringing his powerful fist down so heavily that the glasses and drawing instruments fairly jumped, he almost shouted-- "Why, you are a regular brick, Reggie! That's it right enough." "Are there any islands shown on the chart?" asked my Uncle Herbert. "Several; but let's turn up Findlay's Directory of the Pacific. Hello! What have we here? 'Truk or Hogoleu Islands. This group is composed of four or five lofty basaltic islands, surrounded by a barrier reef.... Discovered by Captain Duperrey, June 24, 1824' (that is, if Humphrey Trevena hadn't done so a century before). 'The northernmost of the group is in lat. 7° 42' 30" N.' (probably San Philipo Island skipped the navigator's memory). It seems possible that an island does exist at this position eh, Herbert?" "Certainly. Do they give any further information?" "Yes; here is a choice piece: 'Captain Cheyne, of the brigs "Naiad" and "Will-o'-the Wisp," came here to collect bêche-de-mer, and were completely taken off their guard by the apparent friendliness of the natives, who at first assisted them to build their curing-houses. As soon as the "Naiad" left, they attacked the "Wisp" with a force of 2,000 men, and were only repulsed with desperate fighting and the loss of six killed and five wounded. They also seized the long-boat, which was recovered the same day.... They had a great number of large Spanish knives, and were armed with brass-hilted cutlasses.'" "'Spanish knives and brass-hilted cutlasses,'" repeated my uncle. "That's strange." "It certainly points to a wreck of some Spanish war-vessel in bygone days." "What do you intend to do in the matter?" "Why, fit out an expedition," replied my father decisively. "I've already formed a rough plan of action, but it is too late to discuss it to-night. It's time we were all turned in and fast asleep."