Less than ninety years ago a Spanish treasure-ship left Vera Cruz, richly laden with plate and specie.  A few days after leaving port yellow fever decimated the crew, and the survivors, unable to handle the ship, ran her aground on a small cay in the Rosario Channel, between the Isla de Pinos and Cuba.  The treasure was landed and hidden, but bickerings and disease still further reduced their number, till only one man remained.  He was rescued by a galliot the owner of which was Pedro’s grandfather. In gratitude, the Spaniard showed his rescuer a plan of where the specie lay, the men agreeing to share the spoil.  Both men were lost in an attempt to reach the island in a small craft in which they had sailed alone, so as to keep their secret, and thus all trace of the spot vanished till five years ago, when Pedro came across the rough chart and an account of the matter, which had been hidden in the rafters of his hut. Pedro himself visited the cay, saw the treasure, but was unable to carry off the stuff single-handed.  He returned to Habana, entrusted six others with the secret, and fitted out a small felucca to secure the spoil.