`He can't 'a' found the treasure,' said old Morgan, hurrying past us from the right, `for that's clean a-top.'

Indeed, as we found when we also reached the spot, it was something very different. At the foot of a pretty big pine, and involved in a green creeper, which had even partly lifted some of the smaller bones, a human skeleton lay, with a few shreds of clothing, on the ground. I believe a chill struck for a moment to every heart.

`He was a seaman,' said George Merry, who, bolder than the rest, had gone up close, and was examining the rags of clothing. `Leastways, this is good sea-cloth.'

`Ay, ay,' said Silver, `like enough; you wouldn't look to find a bishop here, I reckon. But what sort of a way is that for bones to lie? 'Tain't in natur'.'

Indeed, on a second glance, it seemed impossible to fancy that the body was in a natural position. But for some disarray (the work, perhaps, of the birds that had fed upon him, or of the slow-growing creeper that had gradually enveloped his remains) the man lay perfectly straight - his feet pointing in one direction, his hands, raised above his head like a diver's, pointing directly in the opposite.

`I've taken a notion into my old numskull,' observed Silver. `Here's the compass; there's the tip-top pint o' Skeleton Island, stickin' out like a tooth. Just take a bearing will you, along the line of them bones.'

It was done. The body pointed straight in the direction of the island, and the compass read duly E.S.E. and by E.

`I thought so,' cried the cook; `this here is a p'inter. Right up there is our line for the Pole Star and the jolly dollars. But, by thunder! if it don't make me cold inside to think of Flint. This is one of his jokes, and no mistake. Him and these six was alone here; he killed em, every man; and this one he hauled here and laid down by compass, shiver my timbers! They're long bones, and the hair's been yellow. Ay, that would be Allardyce. You mind Allardyce, Tom Morgan?'

`Ay, ay,' returned Morgan, `I mind him; he owed me money, he did, and took my knife ashore with him.'

`Speaking of knives,' said another, `why don't we find his'n lying round? Flint warn't the man to pick a seaman's pocket; and the birds, I guess, would leave it be.'

`By the powers, and that's true!' cried Silver.

`There aint a thing left here,' said Merry, still feeling round among the bones, `not a copper doit nor a baccy box. It don't look nat'ral to me.'

`No, by gum, it don't,' agreed Silver; `not nat'ral, nor not nice, says you. Great guns! messmates, but if Flint was living, this would be a hot spot for you and me. Six they were, and six are we; and bones is what they are now.

`I saw him dead with these here dead-lights,' said Morgan. `Billy took me in. There he laid with penny- pieces on his eyes.

`Dead - ay, sure enough he's dead and gone below,' said the fellow with the bandage; `but if ever sperrit walked, it would be Flint's. Dear heart, but he died bad, did Flint!'

`Ay, that he did,' observed another; `now he raged, and now he hollered for the rum, and now he sang. "Fifteen Men" were his only song, mates; and I tell you true, I never rightly liked to hear it since. It was main hot, and the windy was open, and I hear that old song comin' out as clear as clear - and the death- haul on the man already.'