Spud, a twelve-year old lost in the Mississippi swamps in the forties, hears about Indian treasure that was buried in the swamps long ago. He's interested because his family lost their farm to foreclosure. Bull and Wart who have searched the swamps for the gold for so long that they feel the gold is theirs. Cricket and his father, both Indians also claim the gold for their Tribe. Spud meets and becomes friends with Laura and Suzy, younger sisters of Bull and Wart. Following an adventurous Halloween party, Spud interrupts Bull and Wart's harassment of Cricket and his father, but is forced to run for his life. He ends up in a cave that collapses and propels him into the river. He swims to shore - the wrong side - and discovers an Indian chamber on an island in a forgotten lagoon. Later, aided by Laura and Suzy, he finds skins with markings that tell where the treasure is, but the message is in a riddle that not even Cricket's father can decipher.Bull and Wart capture Spud to lead them to the "island" they hear him tell the Indians about. He wiggles out of that, so they give him to their cousin for a carnival sideshow act. Even though Spud is disguised, Laura and Suzy spot him and send Cricket and his father to the rescue. When freed, Spud leads Cricket and his father to where he believes the gold is buried. They find the gold, but Bull and Wart show up. Laura and Suzy bring help in time. The gold is returned to the tribe, but Spud gets a reward.
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