Part 22 (2/2)
”I guess not--at least, not much of it.”
”You are zare friend, eh?”
”Hardly. Out in America we were enemies.”
”So? You hata zem?”
”Yes, I hate them,” muttered Dan, and his eyes shone wickedly.
”I'm only treating them in a friendly way now because I'm out of money and must do something.”
”I see. It ees a good head you have--verra good,” murmured Captain Villaire. ”Do you know, I heara dem talk about you?”
”Did you? What did they say?”
”De one boy say you should be in ze jail; didn't you robba somebody.”
”He had better keep his mouth shut.”
”You lika do somet'ing wid me?” continued the French native, closing one eye suggestively. He was a close reader of human nature and had read Baxter's character as if it was an open book.
”What do you mean?”
”We gitta dem people into trouble--maka big lot of money.”
”All right--I'll do anything,” answered Baxter savagely. ”So they said I ought to be in jail, eh? I'll fix 'em yet!”
”You helpa me, I helpa you,” went on the wily French native.
He had his plan all ready, and, after sounding Baxter some more, revealed what was in his mind, which was simply to follow the Rovers into the interior and then make them prisoners. Once this was done, they would hold the prisoners for a handsome ransom.
”That's a big job,” answered the big youth. ”But I like your plan, first-rate if you can carry it out.”
”Trust me,” replied Captain Villaire. ”I have half a dozen of ze best of killowers-za, nevair fail me. But as you knowa dem you will have to do ze lettair writing for us, so zat we git ze money from zare people at home.”
”Trust me for that,” responded Baxter quickly. The plot pleased him immensely. ”You do the capturing and I'll make Mrs. Rover or somebody else pay up handsomely, never fear.”
And so a compact was formed which was to give the Rovers a good deal of trouble in the near future.
CHAPTER XVI
THE START UP THE CONGO
”It was queer Dan Baxter should act so,” said Sam to his uncle, when Mr. Rover came back from his interview with the bully. ”I thought he wanted to, go the worst way.”
”He acted as if he had struck something else,” answered Randolph Rover. ”He didn't even want the money I offered. Perhaps he has received a remittance from home.”
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