Part 45 (1/2)
”What is it?”
”Miss Wallace was waylaid and kidnaped four days ago while she and her aunt were driving.”
”How do you know?”
”Miss Berry sent Philips down in a tug to let us know. But that is not the worst. The day before the kidnaping Bothwell escaped from prison. It is thought that his guards were bribed.”
I saw in a flash the cause of the Slav's gloating triumph. Evelyn was his prisoner. He had her safely hidden somewhere in the mangrove swamps.
We might dig the treasure up, but we would have to give him every cent of it in ransom for her. That was his plan, and in it lay the elements of success. For Blythe and Yeager, no more than I, would weigh gold against her safety.
We knew Bothwell. His civilization was a veneer. Disappointed of the wealth he had come seeking, the man would revenge himself on the girl who had stood in his way. I dared not think of the shame and degradation he would make her suffer.
I told Blythe of my meeting with Bothwell.
My face must have been ashen, for Sam put a hand on my shoulder.
”Keep a stiff upper lip, old chap. Bothwell won't hurt her until he is pushed to it. Before that time comes we'll take care of her.”
”That's easy saying. But how? That prince of devils has her back there in the swamps guarded by his ruffians. We don't know where they are.
This very minute she may be---- My G.o.d, think of the danger she runs!”
Blythe shook his head.
”She's safe till Bothwell gives the word. Not one of his fellows would dare lift a hand against her. The captain would shoot him like a dog.”
”And Bothwell himself?”
”She's safe yet, Jack. He's playing for the treasure and to marry her, too. The man is not such a fool as to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The hour of danger for her would be the one when he found out that he had lost the treasure.”
”Let's give it to him. I'll go tell him he may have it all.”
”Easy, lad, easy. We must play our cards and not throw the hand down. We must get hold of the treasure before we can make terms.”
”And let Evelyn stay in his hands without making an effort to free her?”
I demanded.
”Did I say that, Jack?”
”What are you going to do, then?”
”As soon as night falls we'll send a boat up the river to find out where his camp is. We'll make a reconnaissance.”
”I'll go.”
”Don't you think somebody less impetuous would be better, Jack? We don't want to spoil things by any premature attack.”
”I'm going, Sam. That's all there is to say about that.”
”All right. If you are, you are. But you'd better let me.”