, 1926-03-10
CHAPTER VI-Continued

=
"HHve We failed in any important
venture since our association began?"
You ha' a head on your shoulders"
conceded Flint.
And you have not" amended Muir
ray. "No, do not say any more. You
are an excellent man to handle your
ship, Flint, and as fearless as any of
our %rufians; but you are no more ca
pable of looking ahead a week or two
than Ben Gum"
well. what would you?" Flint flung
at him with an air of defiance, which
Murray ignored.
4 would make the greatest coup we
have attempted"
Flint laughed disagreeably.
SO you said when you arranged to
go into New York. but you have car
ried back no treasure with YOU
My uncle regarded him with what,
under other circumstances, I should
describe as honest Indignation.
You fooli' he said with a rasp in
his voice-and I did moi wonder that
Flint pulled sidewise in his chair as
II 10 avoid n stab. "Did you think
4 WIS ~ Eb lhib liltl uuilllt VI II LOW IL
with its wealth in furs and groceries.
and fetch out a treasurer"
"W h them" demanded Flint,
moistening his lips.
My Jncle leaned forward across the
table, lips drawn tight over his teeth.
His eyes shot sparks.
Knowledge, fool Intelligence
That which wise men labor a lifetime
to secure and the ignorant pass by in
the gutter"
Murray rose from the table and com
Fenced to stroll the length of the
cabin. hands clasped under the skirts
of his coat. And as he stroIled he
talked. Flint followed his every move
uneasily, with occasional drafts Of
runi. Peter and / watched the two
of them, fascinated by this conflict
of Wills, which was to exert a vital
influence upon our lives-yes. and
upon those of hundreds Of others.
Il must speak in simple terms, l
perceive, Flint" began my great
uncle.
The passion was out OF his voice.
and the sentence trickled from his
lips slowly, with an air Of detachment.
Flint nodded sullenly. seeing that
an answer was required.
1--WE have frequently discussed the
possibility Of taking one Of the Span
fish treasure ships continued Muir
ray. But we have never attempted
the project because we could not dis
cover the date Of sailing or the port
wherein the treasure was embarked.
II hath beer the custom Of the Span
iards In recent years-in fnct. since
the depredations Of Morgan and his
brethren to shift arbitrarily the port
of embarkation from year 10 year. as
likewise TO change the date Of sailing.
One year the port would be Cnrtngena.
the mex ChHgres, the next Porto Bello,
the 9 * even Vera Cruz. They have
been known to ship the yenr's produce
of the mines around Cape Horn. And
similarly The treasure ships. which
used formerly to sail invariably I'm
the fall Of the year, now depart when
ever II pleases the fancy OF the
ell Of the Indies 10 fix a date"
He paused. and Flint rnsped-
$50 much Is known to all OF us"
II conceded as much.' answered
hAhAAhN EAAAFfAAAAN W AlNA ANNANhn 1Nl
do not know. when we returned from
Mndngnscnr-"
TWINS against my advice" growled
Flint. eye play too much WI politics.
with politics. Exactly" agreed
my grent-uncle. well. perhaps ! do.
-fls true hat so far ! have obtained
triAing advantage from the sport. ex.
Guiding one substantial fortune. this
vessel we ure In and the Information
which makes II possible for me 10
take this years treasure ship"
Flint sat erect, / caught my
rrcath. Peter. too, showed n CLEAN
NJ excitement In his little Eyes that
twinkied from behind the rnmparts
Of flesh that masked his solemn face.
e." me. Murray" swore Flint.
.yDo you say that In sober %enrnestl
. 4ow-how muchf" he qunvered.
rome million Ave hundred thousand
nnrds."