"It is Hook-nose back again," said Macloud. "Come to pay a social call, I suppose! Anything about for them to steal?"
"Nothing but the shooting-irons."
"They"re safe--I put them under the blankets."
"What the devil do they want?"
"Come to treat with us--to share the treasure."
"Hum! they"ve got their nerve!" exclaimed Croyden.
By this time, they had been observed by the men in the buggy who, immediately, came toward them.
"Let us get away from this place!" said Croyden, and they sauntered along landward.
"And make them stop us--don"t give the least indication that we know them," added Macloud.
As the buggy neared, Macloud and Croyden glanced carelessly at the occupants, and were about to pa.s.s on, when Hook-nose calmly drew the horse over in front of them.
"Which of you men is named Croyden?" he asked.
"I am," said Geoffrey.
"Well, you"re the man we"re lookin" for. Geoffrey is the rest of your handle, isn"t it?"
"You have the advantage of me," Croyden a.s.sured him.
"Yes, I think I have, in more ways than your name. Where can we have a little private talk?"
"We can"t!" said Croyden, stepping quickly around the horse and continuing on his way--Macloud and Axtell following.
"If you"d rather have it before your friends, I"m perfectly ready to accommodate you," said the fellow. "I thought, however, you"d rather keep the little secret. Well, we"ll be waiting for you at the tents, all right, my friend!" and he drove ahead.
"Macloud, we are going to bag those fellows right now--and easy, too,"
said Croyden. "When we get to the tents, I"ll take them into one--and give them a chance to talk. When you and Axtell have the revolvers, with one for me, you can join us. They are armed, of course, but only with small pistols, likely, and you should have the drop on them before they can draw. Come, at any time--I"ll let down the tent flaps on the plea of secrecy (since they"ve suggested it), so you can approach with impunity."
"This is where _we_ get killed, Axtell!" said Macloud. "I would that I were in my happy home, or any old place but here. But I"ve enlisted for the war, so here goes! If you think it will do any good to pray, we can just as well wait until you"ve put up a few. I"m not much in that line, myself."
"Imagine a broker praying!" laughed Axtell.
"I can"t," said Macloud. "But there seem to be no rules to the game we"re playing, so I wanted to give you the opportunity."
As they approached the tents, Hook-nose pa.s.sed the reins to Bald-head and got out.
"What"s to do now?" asked Macloud. "They"re separated."
"Leave it to me, I"ll get them together," Croyden answered.... "You wish to see me, privately?" to Hook-nose.
"I wish to see you--it"s up to you whether to make it private or not."
"Come along!" said Croyden, leading the way toward the tent, which was pitched a trifle to one side.... "Now, sir, what is it?" as the flaps dropped behind them.
"You"ve a business way about you, which I like----" began Hook-nose.
"Never mind my ways!" Croyden interrupted. "Come to the point--what do you want?"
"There"s no false starts with you, my friend, are there!" laughed the other. "That"s the thing--bang! and we are off. Good!--we"ll get to business. You lost a letter recently----"
"Not at all," Croyden cut in. "I had a letter _stolen_--you, I suppose, are the thief."
"I, or my pal--it matters not which," the fellow replied easily. "Now, what we want, is to make some arrangement as to the division of the treasure, when you"ve found it."
"I thought as much!" said Croyden. "Well, let me tell you there won"t be any arrangement made with you, alone. You must get your pal here--I don"t agree with one. I agree with both or none."
"Oh, very well, I"ll have him in, if you wish."
Croyden bowed.
"I do wish," he said.
Hook-nose went to the front of the tent and raised the flap.
"Bill!" he called, "hitch the horse and come in."
And Macloud and Axtell heard and understood.
While Hook-nose was summoning his partner, Croyden very naturally retired to the rear of the tent, thus obliging the rogues to keep their backs to the entrance.
"Mr. Smith, this is Mr. Croyden!" said Hook-nose.
"I"m glad to make your acquaint----" began Smith.
"There is no need for an introduction," Croyden interrupted curtly.
"You"re thieves, by profession, and blackmailers, in addition. Get down to business, if you please!"
"You"re not overly polite, my friend--but we"ll pa.s.s that by. You"re h.e.l.l for business, and that"s our style. You understand, I see, that this treasure hunt has got to be kept quiet. If anyone peaches, the Government"s wise and Parmenter"s chest is dumped into its strong box--that is, as much as is left after the officials get their own flippers out. Now, my idea is for you people to do the searching, and, when the jewels is found, me and Bill will take half and youn"s half.
Then we all can knock off work, and live respectable."
"Rather a good bargain for you," said Croyden. "We supply the information, do all the work and give up half the spoils--for what, pray?"
"For our silence, and an equal share in the information. You have doubtless forgot that we have the letter now."
"And what if I refuse?" Croyden asked.
"You"re not likely to refuse!" the fellow laughed, impudently. "Better half a big loaf than no loaf at all."
"But _if_ I refuse?" Croyden repeated.
"I see what"s in your mind, all right. But it won"t work, and you know it. You can have us arrested, yes--and lose your plunder. Parmenter"s money belongs to the United States because it"s buried in United States land. A word to the Treasury Department, with the old pirate"s letter, and the jig is up. We"ll risk your giving us to the police, my friend!"