The Press., 1895-06-13

ever. All day he would wander about as black as thunder and he took to drinking deal more than was good for him.
 "One night he lost even more heavily than usual. was sitting in my hut when he and Captain Morstan came stumbling along on their way to their quarters They were bosom friends, those two, and never far apart. The major was raving about his losses.
 '' It's all up, Morstan, he was saying as they passed my hut. I shall have to send in my papers am a ruined man.
 Nonsense, old chap, said the other, shaping him upon the shoulder. I've had a nasty facer myself, but That was all could hear, but it was enough to set me thinking
 "A couple of days later Major Sholto was strolling on the beach, so l took the chance of speaking to him.
 "'I wish to have your advice, major, said l.
 Well, Small, what is it?' he said, taking his cheroot from his lips.
 "'I wanted to ask you, sir, said l, who is the proper person to whom hidden treasure should be handed over. l know where half a million worth lies and as cannot use it myself l thought perhaps the best thing that could do would be to hand it over to the proper authorities, and then perhaps they would get my sentence shortened for me-
 Half million, Small? he gasped, looking hard at me to see if was in ear nest.
 "'Ouite that, sir-in jewels and pearls, It lies there ready for any one, and the queer thing about it is that tho real owner is outlawcd and cannot hold property, so that it belongs to the first conner.
 "'To government, Small, he stammer- ed, to government Dut he said it in halting fashion, and knew in my heart that I had got him.
 "'You think, then, sir, that I should give the information to the governor gen eral?' said quietly.
 ''Well, well, you must not do anything rash or that you might repent. Let me hear all about it, Small. Give me the facts
 II told him the whole story, with small changes, so that he could not identify tho places When I had finished he stood stock still and full of thought. l could see by the twitch of his lip that there was struggle going on within him.
 "'This is a very important matter, Small, he said at last. You must not say word to any one about it, and shall see you again soon.'
 1.-Two nights later he and his friend Captain Morstan came to my hut in the dead of the night with a lantern.
 '' I want you just to let Captain Mor- stan hear that story from your own lips, Small, said he.
 1T repeated it as I had told it before.
 {" It rings true eh?' said he. It's good enough to act upon,'
 "Captain MOrstan nodded.
 "'Look here, Small, said the major, We have been talking it over, my friend and l, and we have come to the conclusion that this secret of yours is hardly government matter, after all, but is a private concern of your own, which, of course, you have the power of disposing of as you think best. Now the question is, What price would you ask for it? We might be in clined to take it up, and at least look into it if we could agree as to terms He tried to speak in a cool, careless way, but his eyes were shining with excitement and greed.
 Why, as to that, gentlemen, I an swered, trying also to be cool, but feeling as excited as he did, there is only one bar gain which a man in my position can make. 1 shall want you to help me to my freedom and to help my three compan- ions to theirs. We shall then take you into partnership and give you fifth share to divide between you
 "'Hum, said he, a fifth share! That is not very tempting.'
 Tt would come to 95O GOO apiece, said l.
 '' But how can wo gain your freedom: You know very well that you ask an i'm possi bility.'
 Nothing of the sort, answered. I have thought it all out to the last detail. The only bar to our escape is that we can get no boat fit for the voyage and no pro- visions to last us for so long time. There are plenty of little yachts and yawls at Calcutta or Madras which would serve our turn well. Do you bring one over. We shall engage to get aboard her by night, and if you will drop us on any part of the Indian coast you will have done your part of the bargain.
 If there were only one, he said.
 "None or all, answered. We have sworn it. The four of us must always act together
 You see Morstan, said he, Small is 8 man of his word. He does not finch from his friends. I think we may very we'll trust him.
 It's a dirty business the other an swered. Yet, as you say, the money would save our commissions handsomely.
 Well, Small, said the major, we must, I suppose, try to meet you. We must first, of course, test the truth of your story. Tell me where the box is hid, and shall get leave of absence and go back tc India in the monthly relief boat to inquire into the affair
 "'Not so fast, said I, growing colder as he got hot I must have the consent o1 my three comrades. I tell you that it is four or none with us.
 "'NonsenGc, he broke in. What have three black fellows to do with our agree ment?'
 " Black or blue, said I, they arc ir with me, and we all go together
 Well, the matter ended by a second meeting, at which Mohammed Singh, Alb dullah Khan and Dost Akbar were all present. We talked the matter over again and at last we camo to an arrangement We were to provide both tho officers with charts of the part of the Agra fort and mark the place ill tho wall whore the treasure was hid. Major Sholto was to gC to India to test our story. If he found the box, he was to leave it there, to send out small yacht provisiOned for a voyage which was to lie off Rutland island and to which we were to make our way, and finally to return to his duties. Captain Morstan was then to apply for leave of ab
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