The Indian Burial Ground Mystery

to earn money. But he didn’t want to
miss the dig, either. He decided to do both.”
    “How can he do both?” Di asked.
    “He works on the dig during the day, and he has a night job, that’s how.
That way he earns the money, and doesn’t lose the course credit.”
    “Whew,” Brian said. “That’s a rough deal.” Trixie suddenly had a
thought. All the talk of Charles had stirred her questions again. Since she
hadn’t gotten too much sympathy from the others, she decided to talk with
Professor Conroy. Maybe he would have a key to what Charles was talking about
in the woods. Shifting her place, she managed to find a spot next to him around
the campfire.
    “You wouldn’t happen to know any stories about treasure in this area?”
she asked during a break in the singing.
    “Oh, yes,” Professor Conroy answered. His eyes started to glow in that
special way they always did when he was about to begin one of his little
lectures. “But there are always hundreds of treasure tales that circulate in
areas of great historical significance such as this one. Why, I could go on all
night.
    “Ahem.” He cleared his throat happily. “For example, Captain Kidd—whom
you surely have heard about—is said to have buried various treasure caches
along the Hudson River . There’s supposed to be
a cave somewhere around Crow’s Nest—right near here— which contains some of his
treasure. He was also supposed to have buried treasure on Gardiners Island, in Gardiners Bay ,
and on Long Island . But no one’s ever found a
bit of it. I can only assume that he never actually buried it. Maybe he spent
it all, heh-heh .”
    Professor Conroy was obviously enjoying himself. “There are Dutch
treasure legends, too,” he went on. “With ghosts! A long time ago, a Dutch ship
laden with treasure sank in the Hudson .
The survivors knew where the treasure should have been, but because of shifts in
the channel and shoreline of the river, they were never able to find it. But
they swore to continue looking. Rumor has it that at low tide, when the moon is
full, their ghosts still wander up and down in search of the gold, while a
white hound howls at their shadowy wraiths.”
    By this time, the singing had petered out and the group around the
campfire grew hushed. The professor’s rumbly, eerie voice made the stories seem
truly scary. Honey shivered. Trixie was sorry she’d even asked. She didn’t
really believe in ghosts, but still....
    “ Ooooo Ooooooo ,”
Mart wailed spookily. Trixie jumped as the others laughed. “Let’s tell ghost
stories around the campfire,” Mart said.
    “Let’s not and say we did,” Honey answered nervously. “Besides, it’s
getting late. I should be getting back home. We all have to get to work early
tomorrow.”
    “Absolutely right, Miss Wheeler,” said the professor. “We should all
pack it in. Early day tomorrow for us chaps, too.”
    Everyone stood up, and while they were stretching, collecting guitars and
cases, and pouring sand on the fire, Trixie seized another chance to ask
Professor Conroy about Charles Miller.
    “Why, yes, Miss Belden,” he answered cautiously. “I did talk with
Charles Miller about that little contretemps this morning. I’ve decided to have
Charles supervise the work only on the burial ground. As student head of the
dig, he should be spending his time on the most important area. The village
site has far less significance—not that you girls should feel bad about being
assigned there.”
    “But what about—” Trixie started. Professor Conroy went right on
talking. “Charles is an exceptional student—one of the best I’ve ever had. But
he has money problems, and that sometimes makes him bad-tempered. I don’t think
you girls should worry about Charles. I’m sure he’ll be around to apologize to
you tomorrow.”
    Trixie nodded her head, but she felt wary. Apologize? I’ll believe it when I see it, she thought glumly.
    Noticing that the other Bob-Whites were saying good-night to everyone,
Trixie quickly excused herself and caught up with them.
    “There wasn’t one speck of food at this gathering,” Mart grumbled as
they walked home. “I suppose it’s too late to make a little side visit to your
refrigerator, Honey.”
    “I’m afraid so, Mart,” Honey said with a laugh. “Will you live?”
    “I doubt it.”
    The group split up at the clubhouse, and Honey ran up her driveway. Dan
walked Di back to her house, and then he went on to Mr.