Page:Silver Shoal Light.djvu/257

 certain 'tis writ in English, from what goes afore. Let's go at it, sir."

They went at it, and, for an "uneddicated man," Bobstay solved the cipher in a surprisingly short time. It was discovered that the letters of the alphabet, if arranged in the following figures, could be represented by the curious signs on the paper.



By using one of the angles to signify the first letter in each compartment, and dotting the same angle for the second, all the letters could be reproduced.

The Captain gave Bobstay a most unseaman-like hug.

"How could you, how could a person think of it!" he said.

"'T is an old trick, sir," the mate responded. "Look'ee, now all's plain sailing. Here's their mysterious writings for all to read: And then dig, like enough."