Before Judy and Stink could step inside the Crab’s Claw, out came another family. Tall Boy and Smart Girl! Judy said, “Hi.”

“Why did you say hi?” Stink asked when they sat down.

“It just popped out,” said Judy.

“Tall Boy and Crab Girl are beating our pants off. Did they look like they were just eating breakfast? Or searching for clues? What if they already found the gold and we’re too late?”

“Chill out, Curious George,” said Judy. “Believe me, if they found it, we’d know.” Judy dug through all the sugar packets at the table and found four with seashells for her collection.

“Let’s look for the last piece of eight,” Stink urged. “Scurvy Sam said it would be hard. But it has to be here — it just has to.”

“Order first,” said Mom.

Stink stared at the menu.

“This menu sure is crabby.”

“You sure are crabby,” said Judy.

“You’re crabbier,” said Stink.

“You’re crabbiest,” said Judy.

“You’re a she-crab,” said Stink.

“Well, you’re a he-crab,” said Judy.

The waiter asked, “What can I get for you folks this morning?”

“A glass of water, please,” said Stink.

“Me, too,” said Judy.

“Kids,” said Mom, “you have to eat.”

“Order cereal,” Judy told Stink. “That’s the fastest.”

While they waited for their food, Judy and Stink nosed around, searching for the last coin hidden in a crab’s claw. There were crabs hanging in nets on the walls. There were crabby curtains, crab-shaped mirrors, crab door knockers.

“There are ten hundred million crabs in this place,” said Judy.

But not one single piece of silver.

“I got it!” said Stink. “One time I saw this old movie called Mysterious Island, and these two guys, Ted and Ned or something, walk right on top of this evil giant crab under the sand. The crab attacks and grabs Ned —”

“How do you know it was Ned?”

“I’m just saying,” said Stink. “Anyway, listen. Ned screams while the other guy ties a rope around one of the giant crab’s claws. He flips the crab off a cliff and tosses him into a pool of super-boiling-hot water. And then they eat him.”

“Food’s here,” Dad called to them.

“So what’s your point?” Judy asked.

“My point is that there could be a giant crab hidden under the sand on this island, and in his right claw could be the silver coin. Why didn’t I think of it before?”

“Go figure,” said Judy.

On their way out, Stink asked, “Is this the right hand of the crab?”

“No, it’s the Crab’s Claw,” said the lady behind the counter.

“Are you by any chance an Assistant Pirate? Do you have a silver piece of eight hidden somewhere?”

“Not here, I’m afraid,” said the lady, shaking her head. “Sorry, kids.”

“So what’s next?” Dad asked when they got outside.

“Oops, I have to go back,” said Judy. “I forgot my sugar packets. And my place mat. I want to save it for my scrapbook.”

“Hurry up!” said Stink. “We’re almost out of time.”

A few minutes later, Judy came rushing out of the restaurant, waving her place mat in the air. “Stink! I think I found it. Take a look at this.” She held out her paper place mat for Stink to see.

“So? It’s a place mat,” said Stink.

“Look at what’s on the place mat,” said Judy.

Stink looked again. “So? It’s a map.”

Judy pointed again. “Stop being a Crabby Appleton for one second and look harder.”

“So? It’s a map of the island.”

“It’s a map of the island and the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound.” Judy traced her finger around the tip of land that formed Silver Lake Harbor. “Look at the shape of the island.”

“So? It looks like —” Finally it hit him. “It looks like a giant crab claw!” Stink shrieked, jumping up and down.

Judy clamped a hand over his mouth. “Tell the whole world, why don’t you?”