Arizona state miner., 1926-04-10


jaw dropped on his chest. His green
eyes glared. Peter and l were as
dazed as himself. Only my great
uncle remained calm, pacing quietly
up and down the carpeted deck, eyes
fixed upon some distant vision Of the
future
"AII-that? ?" stammered Flint.
"'Sdeath! 'Twould be the greatest
haul in our time, Murray"
'It is ours" affirmed Murray. "Up-
on terms"
"Terms?" echoed Flint. "What
terms? Who can compel us to terms?"
MY great-uncle came to a stop in
front of him.
"My terms, LET US say" he an
swered
"But if We know Of yourself where
1t can be taken why must we bother
wi terms, Murray?" clamOred Flint.
whats riches for us can be pared
down TO short cuts if it must be
shared out right and left. If we take
1t, why not take ALP"
Because" retorted Murray with a
burst OF terrible energy, 81 have
passed my word as to the terms upon
which the treasure is to be taken"
whats your word?" raped Flint
For a moment l thought my great
uncle would strike him. He made to
draw back his arm. and perspiration
stood out in white beads upon his
forehead. Flint feared it, too, but
did not raise a hand to protect him
self, charmed to immobility by the
virulence Of the basilisk's stare which
Murray directed at him.
''Tt is my word" said Murray f.
nally in a very soft voice. "No
more, Flint. poor thing. as the
poet hath said, yet my own! Also
that I may chime in harmony with
your mental processes-it happens
that my personal interests are bound
up with the observance of these
terms
at is a matter we will not discuss
further, since it is beyond the range
of your comprehension l shall mere
Iy say that the terms are fixed, and
that you will either accept or reject
them"
"What are they?
CAS- to division of the spoils? One
hundred thousand pounds to myself
as author and architect of the plan;
seven hundred thousand to our two
ships; and seven hundred thousand
to my friends who co-operated with
me to make it possible"
Flint brought his fist crashing
down upon the table.
"TH be - if / acceptv' he
shouted. What? Less than half to
our company? And you sneaking off
with a cool hundred thousand pounds
In your pockets, and your friends, as
like as not, splitting secretly with
your
My great-uncIe refreshed himself
with snuff, contriving to invest the
ceremony with an effect of distaste
which I found amusing.
''Stap me, but you have low
mind!" he drawled. "Allow me to
direct your attention to the fact that
the plan amounts to my friends and
undertaking voluntarily to present
you an opportunity to participate in
the division of seven hundred thou
sand pounds, for which you will be
called upon to do nothing except
agree TO follow out several stipula-
tions 1 shall lay down."
Lets hear EN-"
My great-uncle licked off the items
upon his finger-tips.
"First, it's highly desirable that we
should lie low during the ensuing
months. Activities such as we usually
conduct would tend to alright the
council of the Indies and bring about
a change in plan for the treasure
ships sailing"
what shall we do, then?"
''My counsel is to bear up for Spy
glass island and careen there. Both
ships are foul, and twill prove an ex-
ceuent opportunity to make all clean
and right"
Flint nodded.
'We shall need our speed against
Tie CpdHIdEu. lie COLumOul0u.
'T SHALL" returned my great-uncle
with some emphasis. "This brings
me to my second point. 'Tis advis-
able that we do not cruise in COM
pany for the treasure l aim to inter-
cept the Santissima Trinidad before
she passes from the Caribbean into
the Atlantic"
The blue look became intensified in
F1int's face.
you'd leave the Walrus behind?"
he demanded.
"I must. Figure it for yourself"
argued my relative. 1.-TWO tall ships
plying the narrow seas, within easy
sail of Jamaica and the Havana and
MarmicOi We should have the frig-
ates after us in no time. My plan is
to masquerade as a kings ship, run
ming from any ugly customers who
show themselves"
aye" said Flint. "And after you'd
taken the treasure and slowed it all
below matches what thought would
xYox1 cr5va RI nc ohOord tho Nolr,1c