, 1926-03-10

The clean, golden sunlight flooded
through the stern windows and dap
pied the polished surface of the table
with darting molts and beams. Flint's
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 int down the carpeted deck, eyes
fixed upon some distant vision of the
future.
"All-that?" stammered Flint.
"'Sdeathl 'Twould be the greatest
haul in our time, Murray,
at 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 II We know of yourself where
It can he taken why must we bother
WI terms. Murray?" clamored Flint.
"What's riches for us can he pared
down 10 short cuts If 1t must he
shared ont right and left. If We take
it. why NOT take all?"
Because" retorted Murray with n
burst of terrible energy, 81 have
passed my word as to the terms upon
which the treasure is to he TAKEN
"What's your wOrd?" raped Flint.
For a mOmen l thought my great
uncle would strike him. He made to
draw back his arm. and p%erspirntion
stood out in white beads upon his
forehead. Flint feared it. too. hut
did not raise a hand to protect him
self, charmed to immobility by the
vlrulence of the basilisk's stare which
Murray directed at him.
ut Is my word" said Murray A.
nally in a very soft voice. "No
more, Flint. A poor thing. as the
poet hath said, yet my own! Also
that | may chime in harmony with
your mental processes-it happens
that my personal interests r 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. I shall mere
ly say hat the terms are fixed. and
that you will either accept or reject
them"
What are they?"
AS TO division of the spors? 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 II possible"
Flint brought his fist crashing
down upon the table.
"rll be - II l accept" he
shouted. "what? Less than half to
our company? And you sneaklng of
with a cool hundred thousand pounds
in our pockets. and your friends. as
like as not. splitting secretly with
you'll"
My great-uncle refreshed himself
with SNUFF, contriying to invest the
ceremony with an effect OF dlstaste
which | found amusing.
"stap me, but you have a 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 10 participate Ia
the division OF seven hundred thou
sand pounds. for which you will be
called upon to do nothing except
agree to follow out several stlpula-
lions | shall lay down"
Lets hear EN-"
My great-uncle licked of the items
upon his hnger-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"
"Whnt shall we do, them"
my counsel II TO bear up for Spy
glass island and career there. Both
ships are foul. and twill prove an tx
cellent opportunity TO make all clean
and right
Flint nodded.
ave shall need our speed against
the Spaniurd.' he commented.
u shall" returned my great-uncle
with some emphasis. "Thls brings
me to my second point IT'S ndvls.
able that we do not cruise In com
puny for the treasure. ! aim TO inter
cept the Santlsslma Trinidad before
she passes from the Caribbean into
the Atlantic"
The blue look became intensified In
Fllnt's face.
you'd leave the walrus behlndf"
he demanded.
~ must. Figure II for yourself"
argued my relative. 1.-TWO tall ships
plying the nnrrow seas, within easy
sail OF jamaica and the Havana and
Marmlcol We should have the frig-
ntes after W. In no time. My plan il