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on, you’ll learn how to tie your own lanyards.”
    Cody grinned at the old sailor. He was off to a good start. He was fun to listen to.
    Finally, Chad Bour began talking about the Carmel Mission Museum. The docent seemed to know a lot about the old adobe settlement, the five-foot-thick adobe brick walls, the artifacts on display, and the Ohlone and Esselen Indians who worked the mission. But it wasn’t until he said the missionaries ate bear meat that she really tuned back in from her daydreaming about pirates.
    â€œWhen Father Junipero Serra died in 1784, guess where they buried him.”
    Cody remembered seeing a small cemetery with graves lined with large seashells and raised her hand. “The cemetery?”
    â€œYou’d think so,” Chad said, “but Father Serra wasspecial. You know the basilica that you all passed through? He’s buried right beneath the chapel floor.”
    A few of the students gasped. Cody wondered why they buried the famous missionary there instead of in the cemetery, but she didn’t have a chance to ask as Chad continued his story.
    â€œThe mission was in ruins after the pirate, Hippolyte de Bouchard, raided the place.” He paused, glancing around at the wide-eyed group, then said, “Do ya want to hear the story of California’s only known pirate?”
    There was a chorus of “yeahs” from the crowd.
    Chad Bour grinned, revealing crooked, yellowing teeth.
    â€œWell, there was this Argentine pirate named Hippolyte de Bouchard who heard the California missions were filled with hidden gold, silver, and jewels. See this cross?” The docent picked up an ornate silver cross the size of a TV remote from the case and showed it to the kids. “They thought the missions were loaded with precious metals like this.”
    â€œIs that real silver?” M.E. asked. Cody’s friendloved to wear jewelry.
    â€œThis one was actually made of iron years ago by the blacksmith in the mission foundry, but he coated it with silver to make it shiny,” Chad answered. “Anyway, Bouchard thought he’d gather a bunch of sea rats, load up his ship, and set sail for the Pacific Coast. While all the other pirates were pillaging the ocean off the East Coast, he had the West Coast seas all to himself.”
    Cody heard oohs and aahs from the students. They were eating this up—and so was she.
    â€œWhen he attacked the Sonoma Mission and found nothing of real value,” Chad continued, “he sailed on over to Monterey Bay. He was sure the missionaries there kept their treasures hidden. He’d heard talk of a secret vault located in the basilica that was said to hold rare jewels and priceless artifacts. But after pillaging, looting, and burning what he could, he and his two hundred men left the area empty-handed.” Chad paused, grinned, and asked, “So do you think there really was a treasure?”
    â€œYeah,” said Matt the Brat without raising hishand. “But the pirates probably fought each other and couldn’t find it. I’ll bet I could find it.”
    Cody shook her head at Matt the Brat’s bragging. He could hardly find his homework, let alone a hidden treasure. The missionaries had nothing to fear from him.
    Chad nodded. “The missionaries did have a treasure, but they’d been forewarned about the pirates’ planned invasion and hid everything.”
    â€œWhere?” asked Luke.
    â€œThat’s the question,” Chad answered. “Unfortunately, the Carmel missionaries took the secret location to their graves. And no one has ever found the lost treasure, although many have tried.”
    â€œA lost treasure! Awesome!” Matt shouted without raising his hand. For that he got a sharp look from Ms. Stad.
    A girl named Maddie raised her hand.
    â€œAye?” Chad said, calling on her.
    â€œDo you think the treasure is still here somewhere?”
    â€œTo tell you the truth,