Part 17 (1/2)
”Some of the men may have overheard a sentence or two. The point is that they are talking treasure in the f'c'sle. Morgan got it from Higgins.”
”From the cook?”
”Yes. Afterward the man was sorry he had spoken. He's the type that can't keep a secret. Some of it is bound to leak out in his talk.”
”Couldn't Morgan find out where Higgins learned what he knows?”
”No. I had him try. The man was frightened about what he had already said. He wouldn't say another word. That doesn't look well.”
After a moment of reflection I spoke.
”Perhaps Bothwell may have told some of the men before we started. I saw him talking to a man that looked like our chief engineer.”
”When was that?”
I told in detail about my meeting with Bothwell on the wharf. Of course I had mentioned the occurrence at the time, but without referring to Fleming.
”Yes, he may have told Fleming about it, but----”
The uncompleted sentence suggested his doubt.
”You think he isn't the man to give away anything without a good reason?”
”You've said it.”
”Of course it's really no business of the crew what we are going after.”
”True enough, but we agreed among ourselves to tell them at the last moment and in such a way as to enlist them as partners with us. Unless I guess wrong, their feeling is sullenness. They think we're after booty in which they have no share.”
”They'll feel all the kinder to us when we let them know that a percentage of our profits is to go to the crew.”
”Will they? I wonder.”
He was plainly disturbed, more so than I could find any justification for in the meager facts and surmises he had just confided to me.
”What is troubling you? What are you afraid of?”
”I can't put a name to my feeling, but I jolly well wish they didn't know. Seamen are a rough lot and they get queer ideas.”
”You don't imagine for an instant that they'll maroon us and hoist the Jolly Roger, do you?” I asked with a laugh.
He did not echo my laugh.
”No, but I don't like it. I thought we had the game in our own hands, and now I find the crew has notions, too.”
”Don't you think you're rather overemphasizing the matter, Sam?”
”Perhaps I am.” He appeared to shake off his doubts. ”In fact, I'm pretty sure I am. But I thought it best to mention the thing to you.”
”Glad you did. We'll keep an eye open and, if there's any trouble, nip it in the bud.”