Treasure on the Bayou

Grandpa H's Revenge

Later that afternoon, Mr. Wilson frantically knocked on the door of the house. "You all better get ready, I heard that there is a whole posse of angry hooligans that are going to come over here to do ya'all harm! They said they were going to head out about dusk and burn you out. That gives you 'bout two hours. You got any weapons?"

They only had one shot gun and the long poles they used with the alligators.

"Quick, Patricia go catch some of the smaller alligators and drag them to the treasure pits and cover them up like we planned. Atticus get all of the trip wires ready and I'll get the hog cage prepared and set it up to release the boar we caught yesterday with a trip wire."

"You are going to do what?" Mrs. Higgins asked, not believing her ears.

"Don't worry honey, we know what we are doing. We've been catching boars and training the alligators to prowl the south end of the property at night. So far it has worked at making the treasure hunters and thieves think twice about getting on our property, but now they are mad at being frustrated in their search and have had enough. They are just bullies and thugs and think they can scare us away. You stay inside with the shot gun and shoot anyone that cannot give you the password- Macarena. We will be ready for them. Oh and call the sheriff and tell him to get down here pronto!"

By six in the evening everything was ready. Atticus, Patricia, Mr. Wilson, and Larry, Higgins were in position.

Right on schedule, the treasure hunters entered the property just like Mr. Wilson warned, but this time they came in greater numbers and with weapons. Their first mistake, however, was to head in mass, straight for the Higgins house to attack the family. Larry thought they would do that, so that is where the most traps were set. From their camp on the other side of Higgins property just on the edge of the bayou, the only way to get to the house was to go through the Hall of Justice. Great grandpa Higgins was not going to like that. Their second mistake was to not see the trip wires that released buckets of stinky swamp water all over them and made a huge racket that alerted the Higgins family of their presence. Atticus had even found a wasp nest in a tree and had rigged a trip wire to pull it down on the trespassers when they walked by. The shouts of the men being stung by wasps was music to the Higgins' ears. The third mistake was not remembering where they had dug their treasure pits. The Higgins could hear the screams as several treasure hunters fell into the juvenile alligator infested pits. Then they heard the blood curdling squeal of the boar as it was released and several shots were heard, mixed with the sounds of men running and profusion of swearing and profanity.

"I count at least four or five that are out of commission." Larry grinned. "Good ideas you had Atticus. Atticus?" His son was not in his hiding place in the tree next to him.

Just then, Larry could see five figures with flash lights approaching out of the gloom pushing a smaller figure in front of them.

"We got your boy, Higgins. Come on out and we'll give him to you. We just want to talk," said a swaggering voice while several others sniggered with glee. "You done ruined things for us. We knowed there was treasure on this property for the longest time and then you's all shows up pretending this be yo land. My gran pappy's gran pappy, Jean Lafitte, claimed this land and hid all of his treasure here. My gran pappy knowed this and was fixin to find it hisself but old man Higgins bought the place and made it durn difficult to find." As if relishing what he was going to say, the ruffian taunted further, "I heer'd my gran pappy even rigged the power pole to blow to scare Higgins off, but that stupid Atticus had to get in the way an kill hisself."

When the treasure hunter had pronounced these words, all the laughter was cut short by several deep bellows and growls from behind them.

Taking advantage of the distraction Larry shouted, "Now!" and they all jumped out of the trees almost on top of the ruffians. Patricia jumped out of the tree nearest the spokesman. "You leave my brother alone!" Patricia shouted as she brought the pole down on the lead man's head with all her might. "Crack!" and the man crumpled to the ground. The man next to him suffered the same fate as her dad brought down his pole. The other two turned just in time to get the wind knocked out of them by Mr. Wilson's long pole. As they bent over grabbing their guts, Patricia gave them the same solid whack she gave the first one. The last one raised his rifle only to have it knocked out of his hands by a powerful swing of Larry's long pole as Mr. Wilson knocked him on the head. They were all groaning on the ground and Mr. Wilson quickly grabbed all their weapons. Patricia and her dad rushed over to her brother to help him get out of the ropes binding his hands and get him to the house.

"I'm sorry dad. I was going to rig one more trap and they snuck up behind me before I could get in position." Atticus whimpered.

"Are you injured? Did they hurt you?" Larry Higgins was seeing red.

"I don't think anything's broken. They just treated me rough."

Just then the sheriff arrived with sirens and lights blaring.

Illuminated by the headlights, the five treasure hunters that had intendent to kill the Higgins family and burn their house down scrambled to get up and then made a break for the woods, limping and hobbling as fast as they could.

"Stay where you are." The sheriff's loud speaker only served to make them run faster. As they entered the forest, everyone heard a cackling laughter that suddenly cut off and turned into a scream of terror. Growls and roars mingled with the screams of agony. Then they heard clear as day, "For the love of God, Help us!" Only three men came running back out of the Hall of Justice with their arms in the air saying, "We give up! Don't shoot!"

The sheriff ran to intercept them with his spotlight and shotgun and Larry Higgens one by one handcuffed them to a tree. Then as they entered the Hall of Justice they saw four monstrous alligators leaving through the woods. Halfway up a tree, Jean Lafitte's descendent was hanging on for dear life. The sheriff got him down and he was read his rights, handcuffed and placed in the patrol car with the others. One of the pirates was attacked by the alligators and the sight of blood and body parts in the Hall of Justice was horrific. The alligators fed well that night because not much was left of him.