The sleeping woman was chained to a bedpost

Horrified, Nancy raised the screen and called to her softly. At first the figure did not stir. When the woman did lift her head from the pillow, she shivered in fear.

“Don’t be afraid! ” Nancy called in a soothing voice. “We’re here to help you.”

“Please! Please! ” the woman pleaded pitifully. “My husband and son are prisoners, too! ”

Ned hoisted Nancy through the window so that she could talk with less fear of discovery. He and Bill waited outside, keeping watch.

“Are you Mrs. Heyborn? ” Nancy asked, and introduced herself.

“Yes, ” the woman murmured. “Two men landed here a few days ago in a boat. They accepted our hospitality, then made us prisoners. My husband and son are chained in another room. Oh, I hope they’re all right! ”

“What became of the boat? We didn’t see it when we landed.”

“Gone, ” Mrs. Heyborn revealed. “I heard one of the men—the others call him Spike—say it would return in a day or two with a lot more digging equipment.”

After examining the woman’s bonds, Nancy realized she could not hope to release her without the key to the padlock.

“I’ll be back, ” she said in a comforting tone. “Then I’ll get this lock off.”

Tiptoeing to the window, she climbed out and rejoined Bill and Ned. She told them everything she had learned.

“We must capture the man who is impersonating Mr. Heyborn and get the key to the padlock from him right away. And, boys, the real Mr. Heyborn and his son are prisoners somewhere.”

At the rear of the building was a screened porch which the young people had barely noticed. As they walked around the house they saw that a cot had been set up in the enclosure. A man was stretched out on it.

“That must be the impostor! ” Nancy whispered to her companions. “If we’re quiet, we can take him without a struggle! ”

Making no sound, the three opened the door of the porch and slipped inside. Ned took a rope from his pocket and bound the man’s feet. The startled prisoner, awakening, struggled to a sitting position. A beard lay on a nearby chair with a big straw hat and white coat.

“Mr. Rorke! ” Nancy exclaimed.

He tried to break free, but Ned and Bill held him securely while Nancy tied his hands behind his back. The boys searched his pockets and turned the man’s keys over to Nancy. She hurried to Mrs. Heyborn, freeing her, then her husband and young son.

The little boy grinned sleepily. “This is just like in a storybook, ” he remarked.

When Mr. Heyborn heard the entire story, he was amazed. He assured the young people that he would not interfere with the Tomlin treasure hunt.

“Dig to your hearts’ content, ” he urged them generously. “My wife and I came here to enjoy a peaceful existence. And our son loves it. I’m a naturalist, connected with the American Museum, and have been studying the flora of the island. All I ask is the privilege of continuing my work without interruption.”

With Spike Doty, Snorky, and Rorke captured, Nancy believed there would be no further trouble. A ship-to-shore telephone call was made to government officials, requesting that a boat be dispatched from the nearest point to take charge of the three prisoners.

On the way back to the yacht Nancy questioned Rorke. He admitted learning of the treasure from the son of the first mate of the Warwick, not the Sea Hawk. The man, now dead, was not named Gambrell. The mate had stolen Captain John Tomlin’s copy of the half section of the parchment map, but had lost it. The only words he could remember on the paper, he had told his son, were “Pa” and “South Atlantic.”

Rorke had discovered the whereabouts of the captain’s twin brother, now known as Tomlin Smith. Accordingly, Rorke offered Ellen’s father money for his section of the map.

At that point in the confession, the rowboat reached the Primrose. Nancy decided to wait until morning for the remainder of the account. Dawn was coming up and the adventurers needed rest.

Nancy fell into a deep sleep, but early in the morning she awakened with a start. From somewhere a young man’s voice was calling, “Nancy Drew! Come out on deck! It’s important! ”

She quickly put on a robe and tiptoed to the door. No one was in the corridor.

“Did I dream I was being called? ” Nancy wondered.

The summons was not repeated. Nancy went back to bed, but not to sleep. She had just begun to feel drowsy when she heard the summons again. This time the sounds seemed to come through the open porthole.

Once more Nancy got up, poked her head out, and looked to the deck above. The young sailor who had announced the disappearance of Snorky was leaning over the rail. He smiled down at her.

“I have an important note for you from Mr. Rorke. I can’t bring it down because I’m on duty. Please come up and get it.”

Intrigued, Nancy replied, “Okay.”

As she quickly put on slacks and sweater, Nancy kept wondering what the note might say. Was it a further confession, a clue to the treasure, or perhaps a warning?

Bess and George had not awakened and she did not disturb them. Nancy hurried up the corridor and climbed the metal stairway to the open area above. The sailor was working at one of the big rowboats on deck near the prow. He was untying the heavy canvas tarpaulin stretched over it under the direction of a heavy-set crewman. Together they laid the canvas on deck.

“Good morning, miss, ” the sailor said. “This guy’s got the note.” He walked off and disappeared.

Nancy went up to the burly crewman. “You have a note for me from Mr. Rorke? ”

“It’s a message, ” the man replied. “He says to tell you you’re goin’ t’ be punished for not mindin’ your own business, Miss Nancy Drew! ”

In a surprise move the sailor knocked Nancy down so that she sprawled on top of the tarpaulin. Before she could get up, he had pulled the canvas around her and now tied the ropes tightly.

“Help! Help! ” Nancy cried, but the sounds were too muffled for anyone to hear.

Seconds later she felt herself being lifted up and then thrown. She landed in the water and began to sink!