The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt (8 page)

A few minutes later, Judy came rushing out of the restaurant, waving her place mat in the air. “Stink! I think I found it. Take a look at this.” She held out her paper place mat for Stink to see.

“So? It’s a place mat,” said Stink.

“Look at what’s
on
the place mat,” said Judy.

Stink looked again. “So? It’s a map.”

Judy pointed again. “Stop being a Crabby Appleton for one second and look harder.”

“So? It’s a map of the island.”

“It’s a map of the island
and
the Atlantic Ocean
and
Pamlico Sound.” Judy traced her finger around the tip of land that formed Silver Lake Harbor. “Look at the shape of the island.”

“So? It looks like —” Finally it hit him. “It looks like a giant crab claw!” Stink shrieked, jumping up and down.

Judy clamped a hand over his mouth. “Tell the whole world, why don’t you?”

Dad turned onto Silver Lake Drive, and they followed it around the harbor.

“Take us out as far as you can go, Dad,” said Stink.

“Yeah, to the tip of the crab’s claw,” said Judy.

“We can park at the Visitor Center,” Mom suggested.

They got out of the car and looked around. “I see a bunch of kids with maps,” Mom said. “They seem to be crossing the boardwalk over to the museum. But the tip of the island is really the old Coast Guard station. It’s the one with the bell out front, down by the water.”

“Bell?” said Judy and Stink at the same time.

“A bell rings,” said Stink, “but doesn’t have fingers.”

“What do you call that thingie that hangs inside a bell?”

“A clapper,” said Mom.

“Or a tongue,” said Dad.

“‘Sound without ears,’” said Stink.

“‘Voice without tongue,’” said Judy. “I bet that bell doesn’t ring.”

“’Cause there’s pirate booty in there.” Stink stopped in his tracks. “I think I just saw Tall Boy and Smart Girl go into the museum. What if there’s another bell in there? The right one?”

But Judy had already taken off. “Wait for me!” cried Stink.

They stopped in front of a large brass bell, like the Liberty Bell but without the crack. Stink pushed it. “It doesn’t ring!”

“But look inside! Look inside!” Judy squealed. Stink stuck his head up inside the bell. “See anything?”

“Dark,” said Stink. “Flashlight!”

Judy dug into Stink’s backpack and pulled out the flashlight. She stuck her head inside the bell and shone the flashlight all around.

Suddenly, the beam of light hit something shiny. A shimmer. A sparkle. Silver! A shiny silver coin was duct-taped to the inside of the bell.

“Eureka!” said Judy.

“Mom! Dad!” yelled Stink. “We struck gold!”

“Well, really, we struck silver,” said Judy. “But that means we win, win, win!” Judy and Stink screamed and hugged each other. People nearby stared, squirrels skittered, and seagulls took flight.

Judy and Stink jumped around and shouted until they were all out of breath, and collapsed in a fit of giggles. Stink got the hiccups because he laughed so hard. “I feel —
hic
— like I won —
hic
— the Olympics!” said Stink.
“HIC!”

“The Hiccup Olympics,” said Judy.

A guy from the Coast Guard station came up and shook hands with them. “Base to Scurvy Sam,” he said into a walkie-talkie. “Come in, Scurvy Sam. We have a couple of winners.”

Mom and Dad caught up and peered at the silver coin. “I can’t believe we beat Tall Boy and Smart Girl,” said Stink. “Just in time, too.”

“I like how you kids stuck it out and didn’t give up,” said Dad.

“See what can happen when you two work together?” said Mom.

“Two brains are better than one,” said Judy.

“Especially when it’s Scurvy-Stink-and-Mad-Molly-O’Maggot brains,” Stink said, tapping his head.

Scurvy Stink and Mad Molly reported to Pirate Headquarters just before twelve noon. A small crowd of people had gathered, waiting.

Stink and Judy ran up to Scurvy Sam. Stink opened his pouch and counted out all sixteen pieces of eight. Scurvy Sam’s eyes lit up brighter than the firecrackers that Blackbeard was famous for having in his beard. “Well, blow me down. If it ain’t Mad Molly and Scurvy Stink. Ain’t you two o’ the smartest urchins on the Outer Banks!”

Scurvy Sam climbed aboard his ship and clanged the bell twelve times. “Avast, me hearties! We have us two winners!” After a big speech, Scurvy Sam climbed down and went up to Judy and Stink. He raised their hands in the air, then danced a funny hornpipe. The crowd clapped and hooted.

“Now tell us, fer all to hear,” he said. “How’d ye do it, me mateys? What’s yer secret?
Arrr.
”

“Just super-duper brain power,” said Stink, tapping his head. “And a trusty-dusty survival kit.”

“And a little luck,” Judy said. “Even though Stink almost got us in jail.” The crowd broke into laughter.

Scurvy Sam presented Judy and Stink each with a shiny gold doubloon. Stink’s had a skull and crossbones and said
1587
on the back.

“Rare,” said Judy. “Mine has pictures of Blackbeard
and
Anne Bonny!”

“Whoa, it’s like a
gold
silver dollar,” said Stink. “Is it real?”

“It’ll break yer teeth if ye bite it.”

“It’s not cursed, is it?” Stink asked.

Scurvy Sam winked. “Would an old sea dog like me curse a fellow pirate?” He turned back to the crowd.

“That be it, mateys. Thanks be to ye one and all for makin’ the Third Annual Pirate Treasure Hunt such a dandy hoot and a holler. Now, mind ye, don’t be leavin’ without yer pirate booty! Treasure for all!” The Assistant Pirates passed out goody bags while Scurvy Sam shook hands and waved good-bye to all the treasure hunters.

“I told you it was the bell,” said a Girl voice.

“I know you did, but you never said which bell, and there was one inside the museum!” said a Boy voice.

Judy’s eyes grew wide. Stink hiccupped. Tall Boy and Smart Girl!

“You’re so lucky,” Smart Girl said to Judy and Stink. “We came all the way from Maine, and we really wanted to win.”

“We tried way hard. We were sure we had it,” said Tall Boy.

“Wow!” said Smart Girl, eyeing Stink’s doubloon. “Sure is shiny.”