A wonderful old villain--" "One of the greatest characters that ever lived.

Oh, and shrewd as the devil.

Do you remember the story about his--" "But the document, for heaven's sake," I said.

"The document first; the story will keep." "Well, they were pulling down Wicks's own house just lately, and out of the rafters there fell a roll of paper--now, I'm coming to it--a roll of paper, purporting to be the account of the burying of a certain treasure, telling the place where it is buried, and giving directions for finding it--" Charlie and I exclaimed together; and John continued, with tantalising deliberation.
"It's in the safe, down at the office; you shall see it to-morrow.

It's a statement purporting to be made by some fellow on his deathbed--some fellow dying out in Texas--a quondam pirate, anxious to make his peace at the end, and to give his friends the benefit of his knowledge." "O John!" said I, "I sha'n't sleep a wink to-night." "I don't take much stock in it," said John.