"I have no money to give you," replied Colson, "but I have information that will enable you to obtain a great deal."
"What is your object in telling me this?" demanded Fletcher, still suspiciously.
"The fact is, my friend and I want to join with you in the enterprise, and get a fair share of the booty."
"Do you wish to join our band, then?"
"Well, not permanently, but for a little while."
"Out with the information, then!"
"Will you agree to our terms?"
"What are they?"
"We want half of the prize."
"You are very modest," said Fletcher in a sarcastic tone. "How much will it amount to?"
"Not far from a hundred thousand dollars."
Fletcher p.r.i.c.ked up his ears. This was indeed a prize worth trying for.
"Give particulars," he said.
"A big nugget is on the way to Melbourne, or will be in a day or two. It was found at Bendigo. I don"t know how much it will net, but probably seventy-five thousand dollars. Then there is a considerable amount of dust besides."
"Who is to carry it? Is it in the hands of a private party?"
"No, it is under government escort."
Fletcher"s countenance changed.
"That is a different matter," he said. "There is danger in attacking a government party."
"Think of the big sum at stake."
"It would require the co-operation of the whole band."
"Suppose it does."
"There will be more to divide it among. The captain would not agree for a moment to give away half."
"Say a third, then."
"I am not authorized to make any bargain. That will be for the captain to decide. You had better tell me all you know about it, and I will lay it before the captain and secure you the best terms I can on conditions----"
"Well?"
"That you give me quarter of your share."
"That is unreasonable," said Colson, disappointed.
"Then go ahead and rob the government train yourself."
Colson saw that he was helpless, and must submit to any terms proposed.
He accordingly signified his a.s.sent.
"Very well, then," said Fletcher, "you may come with us, and I will introduce you to the captain. By the way, who found the nugget? You have not told me that."
"A Yankee and two boys."
"What was the Yankee"s name?" asked Fletcher eagerly.
"Stackpole--Obed Stackpole."
Fletcher whistled.
"I know the man," he said. "The boys are about sixteen--one a sailor?"
"Yes."
"I know them all, and I owe them all a grudge. There is nothing I should like better than to take all they have and leave them penniless."
"I don"t like them myself," said Colson, thinking this was the way to curry favor with his new acquaintance.
"You know them also?"
"Yes; they have treated me meanly."
Colson probably referred to their subst.i.tuting a common rock for the rich nugget, and so subjecting him to mortification and disappointment.
Fletcher asked him a few more questions, and then with the new accessions plunged into the woods, and led his party to the headquarters of the bushrangers.
CHAPTER x.x.xI.
TAKEN CAPTIVE.
The new recruits, on being introduced to the captain of the bushrangers, were subjected to a searching examination by the chief, a suspicion having arisen in his mind that the two were spies sent out by the government to lure the outlaws into a trap. He was convinced after a while that they were acting in good faith, and a conference was called to decide what should be done in the matter. On this point opinions differed. The nugget, of course, would be a valuable prize, but it would be impossible to dispose of it in Melbourne, as the fact of its discovery would have been published, and any person attempting to sell it would be instantly arrested. This view was held by Captain Ring himself.
"That objection is easily met," said Fletcher.
"In what way?"
"One of the band could be sent to America to dispose of it. He could carry it in his trunk as ordinary luggage."