Part 12 (1/2)

”Sure thing,” agreed Tyke.

”And if nothing comes of it, we simply charge it up to profit and loss----'

”An' let it go at that,” finished Tyke. ”We'll have had a run for our money, anyhow.”

”On the other hand,” the captain continued, ”if we find the treasure, and it proves to be of any size, we'll first deduct the cost of the trip, lay aside enough for Parmalee to make things right with him--he may not want it, but we'll make him take it--and then divide what's left into three equal shares?”

”Three!” Drew uttered the e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, and the blood drummed in his temples.

”That's right,” a.s.sented Tyke placidly. ”One for you, one for me, and the third for Allen.”

CHAPTER X

CAPRICIOUS FORTUNE

Drew experienced a thrill of delight. But he felt that he ought to protest.

”I'm not putting up anything toward the expense,” he said. ”If things go wrong, you'll lose heavily. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It doesn't seem the square thing.”

”Let us do the worrying about that,” smiled the captain. ”You've done your fair share already toward this adventure. We'll all share and share alike.”

”You bet we will,” chimed in Tyke. ”There wouldn't be any cruise at all if it hadn't been for you. Who suggested searching the box? Who translated the paper and the map? You've been the head and front of the whole thing from the beginning.”

”But----” began Drew.

”'But,' nothing,” interrupted Tyke. ”Not another word. Remember I'm your boss.”

And Drew, glad enough for once in his life to be bossed, became silent.

But the walls of his air castle began to grow more solid.

”How long will it be before you can have the schooner ready to sail?”

Tyke inquired, turning to the captain.

”Oh, in a week or ten days if we are pressed,” was the response. ”It won't take us more than that to get our supplies aboard and s.h.i.+p our crew.”

”The crew is an important matter,” reflected Tyke. ”It won't do to pick up any riffraff that may come to hand. We want to git men that we can trust. Sailors have a way of smelling out the meaning of any cruise that is out of the usual order of things, an' if there's any trouble-makers in the crew who git a hint that we're out for treasure, they'll cause mischief.”

”They won't get any hint, unless some of us talk in our sleep,” replied the captain. ”I know where I can lay hands on quite a few of my old crew, but I'll be so busy with other things that I'll have to leave the picking of most of the men to Ditty.”

”Ditty?” said Grimshaw inquiringly.

”He's my mate,” explained the captain. ”Cal Ditty. As smart a sailor as one could ask for. But that about lets him out.”

”Why! don't you like him?” asked Tyke quickly.

”No, I can't say I do,” replied the captain slowly. ”I've never warmed toward the man. There's something about him that repels me.”

”Why don't you git rid of him then?”

”Well, you see it's like this,” explained Captain Hamilton. ”He saved Mr. Parmalee's life one time when the old man fell overboard, and naturally Parmalee felt very grateful to him. He promised him that he should always have a berth on one of his s.h.i.+ps as long as he lived. Of course, since the old man is dead, we could do as we liked about firing Ditty, but young Parmalee feels that it's up to him to respect his father's wishes. So rather than have any trouble about it, I've kept Ditty on. But he's a lush when he's ash.o.r.e, and I don't fully trust him. That may be unjust too, for he's always done his work well and I've had no reason to complain.”