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“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?”

Dad turned onto Silver Lake Drive, and they followed it around the harbor.

“Take us out as far as you can go, Dad,” said Stink.

“Yeah, to the tip of the crab’s claw,” said Judy.

“We can park at the Visitor Center,” Mom suggested.

They got out of the car and looked around. “I see a bunch of kids with maps,” Mom said. “They seem to be crossing the boardwalk over to the museum. But the tip of the island is really the old Coast Guard station. It’s the one with the bell out front, down by the water.”

“Bell?” said Judy and Stink at the same time.

“A bell rings,” said Stink, “but doesn’t have fingers.”

“What do you call that thingie that hangs inside a bell?”

“A clapper,” said Mom.

“Or a tongue,” said Dad.

“‘Sound without ears,’” said Stink.

“‘Voice without tongue,’” said Judy. “I bet that bell doesn’t ring.”

“’Cause there’s pirate booty in there.” Stink stopped in his tracks. “I think I just saw Tall Boy and Smart Girl go into the museum. What if there’s another bell in there? The right one?”

But Judy had already taken off. “Wait for me!” cried Stink.

They stopped in front of a large brass bell, like the Liberty Bell but without the crack. Stink pushed it. “It doesn’t ring!”

“But look inside! Look inside!” Judy squealed. Stink stuck his head up inside the bell. “See anything?”

“Dark,” said Stink. “Flashlight!”

Judy dug into Stink’s backpack and pulled out the flashlight. She stuck her head inside the bell and shone the flashlight all around.

Suddenly, the beam of light hit something shiny. A shimmer. A sparkle. Silver!