The legend writ, the stain affected, the key in Silence undetected, fifty-five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend.

The legend writ, the stain affected, the key in Silence undetected, fifty-five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend.

This riddle was the key to finding the lost treasure of the colonials in National Treasure. It was engraved on a meerschaum pipe that the captain of the Charlotte guarded with his life. Each section corresponded to a different component needed to find the way to the treasure.

The legend writ: Refers to the Ottendorf cipher needed to locate Benjamin Franklin's glasses.

The stain affected: The map is invisible to the naked eye.

The key in Silence undetected: The key to the Ottendorf cipher is in the Silence Dogood letters that Benjamin Franklin wrote.

Fifty-five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend: The map is hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence.