Part 15 (1/2)
Again Nicolas started to protest, but apparently thinking better of it, changed his mind and said:
”It shall be as you say. But you will not hold this against me, my having held some of the gold for my own?”
”Not if you do as I say.”
”And I shall have more gold?”
”We shall see; perhaps.”
”Then I shall uncover the other,” said Nicolas.
He stooped to his knees and lifted a loose board in the floor.
”One moment,” said Hal. ”Your men outside. We can take no chances with them. If they knew you had all this gold stored here there would be a fight. Step outside and tell them to go away.”
This time Nicolas obeyed without even hesitating.
While he was outside, Hal whispered quickly to the others:
”There is no use delaying. We'll give his men time to get out of hearing and then we'll grab him.”
”But the gold, what are you going to do with that?” Ivan wanted to know.
Hal smiled a bit.
”I don't know how I happened to think of that,” he said, ”but now that we practically have it in our hands, I vote that we turn it over to the impoverished little kingdom of Montenegro.”
”By Jove! Good!” exclaimed Colonel Edwards. ”My boy, you have a wonderful head on your shoulders. I am proud to know you.”
”Thanks,” said Hal. ”Now, as long as I have been doing the talking, I may as well continue. We'll keep quiet until we are sure this traitor's men are out of earshot and then we'll take possession of Mr. Nicolas and his unearned gold.”
A few moments later Nicolas re-entered the hut.
”Get rid of them?” asked Hal, briefly.
”Yes.”
”Good. Then get busy and bring your gold out.”
”Look here,” said Nicolas, eyeing Hal somewhat angrily. ”I don't like your tone exactly.”
”I don't exactly care whether you do or not,” returned Hal quietly. ”You are pretty small fry in this game, Nicolas, and I'm not afraid of you.
Remember, if anything should happen to me, you'll have the German government on your trail, and then what would you do for gold?”
Nicolas opened his mouth to reply; then thought better of it and closed his lips without uttering a sound.
”All right, now that we understand each other,” said Hal. ”Get to work and produce the gold.”