Chapter II: Part 2

Now, Willie Brown was like all other boys. After being dismissed by Mr. Boulby he sat down in the corner of a fence and thought. A light broke in upon him after a few moments of silent meditation.

"I'll bet yuh anything!" he almost yelled, slapping his leg, "that's it!"

True to the terrible oath he had sworn, he was off like a shot to rally the Faithful Band. It happened that he met Mr. Murphy before any of the Band.

"I thought you were helping Mr. Boulby," said Mr. Murphy.

"So I was but--but--." Willie's pride in his secret and mystery was his downfall. From that moment he was an empty vessel in Mr. Murphy's sight.

That night found the brother and sister plying their spades in the garden. Their lantern was burning dimly, but it gave sufficient light to show the boys all they wished to see.

"What did I tell yuh?" whispered Willie to his comrades of the Faithful Band. "Don't that beat everything? And here it was all the time and we didn't know it."

"I'll bet the old Captain was a pirate," whispered Ned Larkins.

"I'll bet so, too," whispered another.

There is always somebody to throw cold water on our most cherished theories, as Willie Brown was soon to learn.

"If you didn't take that thing in your own hands and examine it, you don't know what it was, Willie," remarked Tom Parker. "There is a mystery here alright enough, but I wouldn't say you're right, Willie."

When they were a safe distance away they besought Tom to give them the benefit of his theory, but he absolutely refused. There was no good, he said, in his getting mixed up with it, for if he wasn't mistaken there'd be trouble about this thing yet. Considerably sobered, the band dispersed.

The next day, though dejected and cast down, Willie Brown again circulated the fiery cross among his faithful followers, and did not even except the skeptic. He was fated to again fall in with Mr. Murphy, who had been doing some midnight scouting himself and was therefore in both glee and perplexity. By a few skillful questions and tentative remarks, Mr. Murphy obtained all the information he could desire.

The next day Joseph and his sister were feeling pretty stiff and sore after the unaccustomed exposure to the dew and cold. They decided not to work that night.

"You had better drag that big packing box over the hole, Joseph," said Miss Katherine. "Somebody might fall in and break a leg."

The Faithful Band appeared later than the previous night. Mr. Murphy had dropped a hint about the folly of undertaking certain kinds of expeditions at any other time than midnight. They saw the faint outlines of the box but nothing else. At first they were discomfited and then elated. Ned Larkins said that they must climb over the fence into the garden and dig in the exact spot where the box then was.

Tom Parker, the dissenter, being the oldest and biggest, was appointed leader.

"No, sir!" declared he emphatically. "I know better than that. I've got too much sense to meddle with that. The biggest detective in New York wouldn't dare go and leave his tracks around there. Oh, no! they're too cute for that."

Tom, of course, meant to imply that he also was "too cute for that."

Willie had taken one snub from Tom and he was determined that should be the last.

"You're a calf," was his polite reply to Tom as he vaulted over the fence. "Who's goin' to foller me?"

They all followed, even Tom Parker. They advanced cautiously. Willie's temerity was moderating and he waited for the rest to come up with him. They advanced in a semicircle. As the wavering line was within ten yards of the box that object seemed to lift itself from the ground and a deep groan arose as from the bowels of the earth. Oh what a fright was that--my Faithful Banders! In a moment the fence seemed alive with terrified and struggling boys. Mr. Murphy crawled out of his cramped quarters and went home.

The boys had, of course, been properly sworn to secrecy, but somehow, the next day an uneasy feeling pervaded the village. No one seemed to possess any definite information, but there were rumors to the effect that there were peculiar folks now in the neighborhood; people weren't really safe and Mrs. White could tell a good deal if she would. That lady had exercised a good deal of prudence and had said very little about the Boulbys, but the day after the boys' adventure she was credited with volumes.

It was not long before the strong minded mother of a member of the Faithful Band had obtained from him enough to warrant her sending to all the matrons of the village a pressing invitation to tea that afternoon. It was a formidable group that foregathered that afternoon. The discoveries and adventures of the Band were duly narrated and embellished.

Out of the chaos of frightful tales that flourished exceedingly and waxed more and more fearful, one could have deduced the fact that the Boulbys were nothing more or less than modern Blue-Beards.

Well, their families had to be protected, and if they told the men all they knew it would be all over the country in no time, and for some reason they didn't think that would be well. As far as they could see the best thing to be done was for them to investigate for themselves that very night.

And so it was that for the third time the Boulbys were to undergo a night attack.

Miss Katherine was not the sort of woman to be caught sleeping. She had been unable to continue the excavation, owing to a slight attack of rheumatism. She felt uneasy about so vast a treasure lying unguarded and begged Joseph to make himself some sort of shelter in the garden and keep watch during the night.

"You wouldn't have to keep awake all the time," she said, "you'd hear any noise in your sleep and it would do you good to sleep out in the fresh air."

But Joseph was not a fresh air enthusiast, and the very idea of sleeping in the garden gave him rheumatic twinges. However, Miss Katherine was not to be balked. She took the faithful old dog Bruno by the collar and led him to the garden where she pointed out the box and explained his duty to him. Bruno understood and consented.

"A woman has always one she can depend on, if she has a dog," Miss Katherine cuttingly remarked as she re-entered the house.

Just a word about Mr. Murphy before we proceed with the night attack.

He had been very busy all day, walking about the village, chatting with the boys and gossiping with the women. There might have been method in his gossip, as he seemed to elicit just what he desired. Towards evening he took a walk along the shore and held communion with himself.

"I don't think she'd call it chivalrous to scare them. But she'd rate it pretty high if I kept watch to come to the rescue of the besieged or the besiegers, whichever needs help."

As Mr. Murphy has reached this satisfactory conclusion we will leave him and return to follow the female posse across the fields to the Boulbys' garden.

When the group of trembling females had reached the garden fence they beheld the confirmation of the boy's story.

There was a whispered discussion of the advisability of further investigation. The pros won and the means to this end now stared them in the face.

The picket fence had presented no difficulties to the boys but it was a great obstacle to their mothers. To climb it was impossible. The only other way was to make a breach wide enough to admit a portly form. One picket was gone and they began loosening several on each side of the opening. It was difficult to do this and prevent the loosening nails from screeching. The process was a very slow one as such care had to be exercised.

Meanwhile Bruno was quite cognizant of their presence and with bristling hair and bared teeth was crouching for an attack when further provocation should be given.

The Boulbys had retired early, as neither was feeling very well, but towards midnight Miss Katherine awoke and began to think of poor old Bruno. She thought she would get up and peek out to see if he were all right.

The trespassers were making sure but slow progress and were still hanging on the pickets with their whole weight as Miss Katherine looked out of the window. She was not at all alarmed. She understood her own sex, her faithful dog and her own resources.

The heaviest of the group had now been pressed into service as weights on the loosening pickets which suddenly surrendered with a frightful wrenching sound. Simultaneously with this noise there arose from the box a savage growl and a great, black beast threw himself into the air like an imprisoned spirit released from Hades. From the window had come a sharp report and from the opposite fence a yell that must have been emitted from a savage throat.

At the too sudden surrender of the pickets four heavy females were precipitated against their companions and the whole posse fell in an inextricable mass upon the ground.

Miss Katherine let the burst paper bag flutter to the ground as she hung upon the window curtain, helpless with laughter.

Mr. Murphy scudded away from behind the fence ejaculating,

"Bully for her! She doesn't need a protector. It's no wonder she's set her heart on a romantic man."

When morning came and they could speak more calmly concerning their bruises the same females were again met in conclave.

Some were for placing the matter in the hands of the constable, but this did not meet with unanimous approval.

"Poor old constable Wilson couldn't get up enough courage to go there," said one.

"It would be a shame to ask him," said another. "Everybody knows he isn't expected to look after anything dangerous. Such a thing as this was never heard of before in this neighborhood, so they just put in old man Wilson for he could keep the boys out of the orchards and 'tend pound and that's about all there is to do in this neighborhood. Now isn't there somebody that could handle them Boulbys?"

"I've got a plan," began an earnest faced matron. "I think Mr. Horton's the man to see to this. If he can't exhort the evil spirit to come out of them Boulbys, nobody can. And he ain't afraid of anything either. It's his duty, too, to look after things like this, for we all know that the Evil One has taken control of the Boulbys, body and soul. But we won't have to do any urging to get Mr. Horton to do his duty. Just last Sunday he said in his sermon that the scent of the battle and the battle cry was like perfume to his nostrils and music in his ears, when he could wage war upon the forces of evil."

"That's a good plan," agreed a sister in the church. "You're right in saying he ain't afraid of anything. His sermon last Sunday was a splendid one. I thought he'd break the old pulpit to pieces, he was that earnest. He preached about Gideon and Gideon always makes a good subject. Do you remember that he said that when he felt he was armed with the sword of the Lord and of Gideon he could face ten thousand foes?"

It was agreed that this fearless spirit would be undaunted by this task and a committee was appointed to place the matter before him.

Mr. Horton was a man, who, had he been of another religious persuasion, would have made one of Alva's fiercest bloodhounds. He was untiring in his zeal for the cause he espoused. He knew not mercy and he gave no quarter in the battle. And so he listened with hardening face to the tale poured forth by the suffering females, the most faithful of his flock. No need to urge him forward on the path of duty. He gave his word that he would go forth without delay to wrestle with the evil spirit that possessed these unfortunate people.

And thus it was that Joseph caught sight of the ministerial form stalking up the walk just as his sister was concluding a recital of the events of the night before.

"The minister's coming," he warned Miss Katherine. "Don't let him hear you laughing about scaring those women--likely it's that he's coming about."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed his sister. "I'd pretty soon tell him to mind his own business."

Grim and undaunted Mr. Horton stood upon the verandah, awaiting admittance. Not even the pleasant, welcoming smile upon Joseph's mild and open countenance softened his austerity.

"A wolf in sheep's clothing, no doubt," he said to himself.

It was well that he had steeled his heart, for Miss Katherine was at her pleasantest this morning, and she was very charming in that mood. But even she could not soften that heart of adamant.

When he had seated himself he calmly began a searching scrutiny of the two faces before him. Perhaps he was a student of natural history and had learned that this was one way of taming wild animals, and as he had come to cage the roaring lion that walked up and down the world seeking whom he could devour, it would be well to follow approved methods.

Mr. Horton was not a man to hesitate when his duty lay plain before him, so he informed the brother and sister that he had come to inquire after the welfare of their souls and to save them if they felt themselves lost and guilty sinners condemned to a fearful punishment.

Under this attack Joseph was more nettled than his sister. Miss Katherine told herself that he must be a religious fanatic and as they hadn't yet attended church in Ocean View, he believed them to be godless people.

"I have every sympathy with religious enthusiasm," she gently informed Mr. Horton, "but, of course, I don't feel as strongly on the subject as you do."

This remark confirmed his wolf theory and he began to fear that he had to deal with the wiliest of Satan's lieutenants. He thought he had better strengthen himself by a word of prayer so informed them that they must kneel with him.

Joseph's face grew dark, but Miss Katherine imperatively motioned to him to be silent and passive. Mr. Horton implored aid in the task he had undertaken and begged that he might be the instrument to bring these poor, lost, guilty souls to repentance. Under shelter of this storm of words Miss Katherine whispered to her brother that he must control himself and must not be violent.

When they rose from their knees, Mr. Horton was breathless, so Miss Katherine had him at her mercy. She politely asked him to excuse her brother as he was not feeling well, at which Joseph gratefully withdrew.

"A guilty soul is a terrible thing, Miss Boulby," said Mr. Horton mopping his forehead.

"Yes, I suppose it must be," she returned calmly, "but what is even worse is to have a mind that is constantly imagining evil in others. Now, Mr. Horton, the ladies of your church have quite ignored us since we came, but I should be very much pleased if Mrs. Horton and some of the prominent ladies in the church would call and we can discuss what I can do and where I can fit in in church work."

Mr. Horton fairly shone with triumph. Here was a repentant sinner.

"There is joy among--" he began but that was too much for Miss Katherine.

* * * * *

About this time Mr. Murphy was giving the pebbles on the shore the benefit of one of his frequent monologues: "I've seen them taken with it before," he informed himself, "but never so bad as she's got it. Treasure hunting is like yellow fever. You've got to let it burn itself up. I should think her treasure hunting fever would be about cured, but you never can tell with a woman. Perhaps she's onto a new place by this time. I hope she won't go tearing the place down to see if there's a secret chamber anywhere. I like her to enjoy herself, but she's apt to get into trouble with Skinner if she destroys much property. I'll have to think up some way of satisfying her or she'll land in the penitentiary.

"I wonder if she's found any more qualities in the old Cap's picture? I think the picture's got all the strength when she's around, for darn me if I ain't as weak as water when she goes talking about him being the kind of man she admires! For I know that there's just so many qualities that I'll begin to dig up out of me or to plant in me. But she might come to the end of the choicest characteristics soon and give a feller time to cultivate a few."

The Captain tugged at a large volume in his pocket. He succeeded in tearing it out. The place where he had been reading was marked by a slip of paper upon which was a long list of books written in a feminine hand. The name of the volume Mr. Murphy was reading was the twenty-first on the slip and was 'Treasure Island.'

"If I'd ever had a villain like that Silver around me I'd 've strung him up. Such dilly-dallying around makes me sick," commented the reader.

"Why, Mr. Murphy, do you talk to yourself or are you reading aloud? Your expression is wonderful if you were reading," said the pleasant voice of Miss Boulby who had quite innocently chosen for her afternoon walk Mr. Murphy's usual direction.

That gentleman jumped to his feet in great trepidation. What had he been saying?

"Oh--why--I believe I was reading aloud. I get so interested in those books you were telling me about--the ones the Captain read so much, you know, that I read aloud before I think."

Miss Katherine seated herself and motioned to Mr. Murphy to do the same. She picked up the book which had fallen in the reader's surprise.

"Treasure Island! That is a most delightful book. I am so glad you enjoy it. I do think that a man who can, as it were, live these adventures with Stevenson's characters is as delightful and interesting a person as,--as even old John Silver himself," said Miss Katherine with enthusiasm.

"A-hem," Mr. Murphy cleared his throat and rubbed his chin. "Do you like John Silver?"

"I think he's just fascinating, don't you?" returned Miss Katherine.

"Exactly, Miss Boulby. Fascinating's the word I was hunting for just before you came up. But it's the subject of the book itself that fetches me. I was always after hidden treasure, Captain Kidd's and so on. I don't suppose you were ever taken that way?"

Miss Katherine looked at her questioner out of the corner of her eye, but he was gazing abstractedly over the water.

"Well, yes, I must confess that I have been rather interested in hidden treasures. But, of course, I have never done any actual hunting as I have never had any clues. But I should think it would be very interesting. Did you mean that you have actually sought a specific treasure?"

"Not exactly that," explained Mr. Murphy, "at least not till I came here."

Miss Katherine's eyes grew wide.

"I haven't done any real diggin' here yet," he went on, "but I hope to begin soon. Now I don't mind telling you for I'd like a partner, one who thinks as I do about it, you understand. It isn't for the love of the money, you know, but the romance, that's it, the romance. Now you know all about Captain Kidd?"

Miss Katherine nodded.

"Well, I've figured it out pretty well, and it's my opinion that some of his hoard lies right along this shore and not very far from here." Mr. Murphy's imagination was pretty well exhausted so he stopped to recuperate.

"Along this shore and not far from here!" exclaimed Miss Katherine. "Dear me! Who'd have thought it? But have you any maps or plans or charts or whatever tells you where to look?"

Mr. Murphy's imagination had taken a new lease on life.

"I've got them hidden carefully in my rooms," he explained. "I have been comparing them with the physiognomy of the shore here and I believe with a little help on the subject which you can supply I would be able to identify the spot to-morrow."

"I should love to help you," exclaimed Miss Katherine. "It's so very kind of you."

"Oh, no, no!" returned Mr. Murphy. "It's only just now since you told me that you were interested in treasure seeking that I have really enjoyed thinking about it."

"You said you had always been interested in hidden treasures," Miss Katherine reminded him.

Mr. Murphy's face grew red. He hastened to explain:

"I mean that the books that I've been reading under your direction have been so interesting that I couldn't bear to stop reading and look for the treasure."

Miss Katherine beamed.

"We will search together," she said coyly.

As they were walking home together, Mr. Murphy observed casually--

"A friend of mine who was a great friend of Captain Shannon's told me once that the Captain had produced a new species of rose and that he had been awarded a gold medal by the American Horticultural Society. The Captain told my friend that he used to wear it on his chain but he lost it while working in his garden here. Wasn't it a pity? I don't suppose you have ever come across it?"

"Not that I know of," returned Miss Katherine composedly.

When she got home she went immediately to the library and to the drawer that held the ancient golden coin that Joseph had found. She took it to the kitchen where she scraped and brushed it well. Behold! there was the name of the American Horticultural Society on one side and on the other the inscription:

"Consequitur quodcunque petit!"

* * * * *

When Mr. Horton returned from his visit to the Boulbys, he told his wife of the gratifying results and of Miss Boulby's wish that she and other church workers would call upon her.

"The brother was strangely moved," concluded Mr. Horton, "and the sister was greatly softened."

Mrs. Horton and her friends did not delay calling upon Miss Boulby. That lady has been walking on air since the above-related conversation with Mr. Murphy and was in a very sweet and forgiving mood. She allowed her callers to talk just as much as they pleased and on the subject dearest to them. They discussed and re-discussed every phase of church work. Miss Katherine professed herself willing to make endless quilts for the missionary box, pin-cushions for the bazaar, socks for the Old Men's Home and cakes for the sewing circle. The minister's wife was dazed by such liberality and when Miss Katherine spoke of the number of years her brother had been deacon in their home church, and of her own activities in every conceivable church society, the ladies felt that a terrible injustice had been done this exemplary brother and sister.

When Miss Katherine had seen that her words fell on receptive ground she still mellowed that soil by tempting refreshments after which she proposed a walk in the garden. As Joseph was from home she offered slips, roots and seeds without number. At last she came to a rose tree which, she judged, would do as well as any other and she launched into the story of Captain Shannon's experiments to produce a new species and final triumph.

"We knew," said the unblushing Miss Katherine, "that he had been awarded a medal by the American Horticultural Society. Mr. Murphy, who is an old friend of the Captain's, told us he had lost the medal in the garden, so we began looking for it. Come with me and I'll show you where we found it."

Miss Katherine did so, elaborating on the trouble they had taken to discover it.

"It is solid gold," said she, "and we were afraid that the boys might suspect what we were looking for and come at night and hunt for it, so we set Bruno to watch at night, but fortunately we found it. Come in the house and I'll show it to you."

As Miss Katherine watched her visitors go away she said to herself:

"I confess that all I said this afternoon was not strictly true, but there are times when a prudent woman will deviate somewhat from the exact truth."

* * * * *

When Miss Katherine had bade Mr. Murphy good afternoon, on the day of his startling disclosure concerning Captain Kidd's treasure, the aforementioned gentleman fell to chuckling.

"I'm in a devil of a fix, but I've saved the house from destruction, that's sure. I'll trust her to make peace with the neighbors and then I'll gradually ease her off the Captain Kidd proposition and then there should be plain sailing. But Jehosaphat! What about that chart? Well, I'll just have to get some paper and a pencil and go back to the shore and draw it, that's all. I can't lie worth a darn. I've got to get myself in a worse mess every time instead of lying out."

So saying, Mr. Murphy procured the paper and pencil and retraced his steps to the shore where he labored long and arduously, for he was neither an artist nor a cartographer.

In a couple of days Mr. Murphy informed Miss Katherine that he thought he had located the right spot and that afternoon, they would begin their search. Miss Katherine was to join him at the spot where she had found him the day they became partners in this affair. He would be laden with the necessary tools. Miss Katherine asked if she should bring a bag in case of success, but Mr. Murphy said no, they were more apt to find it if they acted as if they thought they wouldn't.

At the appointed time and place the junction of the forces was successfully accomplished.

Miss Katherine and Mr. Murphy sat down side by side to study the chart. The latter explained that he had worn out the original and this was a copy he had made. The chart fully came up to Miss Katherine's idea of a chart.

"Now you can see if you study it," exclaimed Mr. Murphy, "that it's this bit of shore that's meant. See where it juts out here by the pine tree! Well, just look down the shore there and you'll see the very spot. From there just follow along and compare the chart with the shore. Line for line, ain't they?"

"Isn't that remarkable!" exclaimed Miss Katherine. "What a wonderful observer you must be to have noticed the similarity! But wouldn't you think there would be changes in the shore line since the time this chart was made?"

"Well, you see it's sheltered here," returned Mr. Murphy. "That makes a big difference."

"Oh does it?" cried Miss Katherine.

"Oh, yes!" replied Mr. Murphy.

"And now where is the treasure?" asked Miss Katherine.

"Well, the first place I'd try is right in this little hollow. We'll go right along to it."

Mr. Murphy shouldered his spade, pick and axe and directed Miss Katherine to the spot, a little sandy hollow between two little sandy mounds.

"Now you must keep guard while I dig," said Mr. Murphy. "It wouldn't do to let others into the secret you know."

Miss Katherine was quite disappointed, for she had anticipated watching the excavation sink deeper and deeper until the spade suddenly struck the iron lid of a box, and a king's ransom glowed at their feet. But she realized the wisdom of this request and uncomplainingly complied with it.

In silence and with inward protest Mr. Murphy plied his spade until he was obliged to straighten his aching back. He looked at his task mistress entreatingly, but she was on guard and had no eyes for the toiler. The poor man gazed about him in distress. Would he fall from grace if he took a little rest?

Fortunately for Mr. Murphy, at this moment, Miss Katherine's eye fell upon the little lunch basket she carried. A pang of remorse shot through her heart as she turned and beheld her hero leaning wearily upon his spade.

At the suggestion of lunch Mr. Murphy climbed out of prison with such alacrity that Miss Katherine's soft heart suffered another pang. But as pity is akin to another, warmer and tendered passion let us hope all was working for the highest good of Miss Katherine and Mr. Murphy.

Whatever hopes of a prolonged rest that gentleman had at first entertained were soon destroyed by a word or two from his inexorable partner, and again the gentle chuck, chuck as the spade struck against the soft sand, was the only sound that broke the silence.

Miss Katherine, though not watching the digger, kept time with his steady spade and strained her ear to catch a clink instead of a click. That would announce the bursting of an old leather bag or the striking upon an iron box. There it would be! Gold! Gold glittering in the light after years of darkness!

"Damn it!" broke in upon Miss Katherine's golden dream.

In mild surprise she turned about and beheld her erstwhile obedient partner hurl his spade from him and scramble out of the deep hole he had dug. Rebellion was written on his face, but as he approached Miss Katherine there was something much softer and infinitely agreeable to the female eye in his expression.

"Confound it all!" said Captain Peter Shannon, "let's stop this foolishness and get married."

* * * * * *

Transcriber's note:

Punctuation errors have been corrected.

Archaic and variant spelling is preserved as printed.

The following emendations have been made:

Page 6--Katharine's amended to Katherine's--... so readily
consented to Miss Katherine's going ...

Page 7--be amended to he--... why wouldn't he come back ...

Page 9--Katharine amended to Katherine--However strongly Miss
Katherine became convinced ...

Page 19--ever amended to every--"There is unusual strength in
every feature, ..."

Page 20--captain amended to Captain--... to--er--the
Captain--ah--when he returns ...

Page 21--captain amended to Captain--"Ah, you think that the
late Captain was ..."

Page 27--by amended to my--"Bless my soul!" exclaimed Miss
Katherine, ...

Page 31--snbstantials amended to substantials--She had heard of
such substantials ...

Page 32--Pue's amended to Poe's--... for she had been reading
Poe's frightful tale of the black cat, ...

Page 36--hook amended to book--... for he often put a book in
his pocket ...

Page 37--llustrations amended to illustrations--... and looked
at the illustrations.

Page 39--aainst amended to against--... which, in hitting
against a stone, ...

Page 42--your're amended to you're--"... but I wouldn't say
you're right, Willie."

Page 46--seem amended to seemed--... as he seemed to elicit
just what he desired.

Page 48--know's amended to knows--"Everybody knows he isn't
expected ..."

Page 53--thing amended to think--I think the picture's got all
the strength ...

Page 53--a sweak amended to as weak--... I ain't as weak as
water ...

Page 54--villian amended to villain--"If I'd ever had a villain
like that Silver ..."

Page 54--one's amended to ones--... the ones the Captain read so
much, ...

Page 55--omitted double closing quote added--"... Now you know
all about Captain Kidd?"

Page 55--horde amended to hoard--... it's my opinion that some
of his hoard lies right along this shore ...

Page 57--omitted word 'he' added--The Captain told my friend
that he used to wear it ...

Page 57--Consequitar amended to Consequitur--"Consequitur
quodcunque petit!"

Page 59--forunately amended to fortunately--... but fortunately
we found it.

Page 60--everytime amended to every time--... in a worse mess
every time ...