a more friendly
way than before; the Santa Cruz having opened the heart of the Sydney
Duck to a degree of familiarity; while, on his side, the mate, throwing
aside all reserve, lets himself down to a level with the foremast-man.

It ends in their establishing a confidence, mutual and complete, of that
character known as "thickness between thieves."

Blew first strikes the chord that puts their spirits _en rapport_, by
saying:

"Ye tell me, Striker, that ye've had hard times an' some severe
punishment. So's had Harry Blew. An' ye say ye don't care about that.
No more cares he. In that we're both o' us in the same boat. An' now
we're in the same ship--you a sailor afore the mast, I first officer--
but for all the difference in our rank, we can work thegether. An'
there's a way we can both o' us do better. Do you want me to tell it
ye?"

"Ay, ay; tell it. Jack Striker's ears are allus open to 'ear 'ow he can
better his sittivation in life. I'm a listener."

"All right. I've observed you're a good hand at the helm. Would ye be
as good to go in for a job that'll put a pile o' money in your pocket?"

"That depends. Not on what sort o' job; I don't mean that. But what's
the figger--the 'mount o' the money--how much?"

"Puttin' it in gold, as much as you can carry; ay, enough to make you
stagger under it."

"An' you ask if I'm good for a job like that? Funny question to ask--it
are; 'specially puttin' it to ole Jack Striker. He's good for't--wi'
the gallows starin' him full in the face. Danged if he an't!"

"Well; I thought you wouldn't be the one to show basket-faced 'bout it.
It's a big thing I hev on hand, an' there'll be a fortin' for all who go
in for it."

"Show Jack Striker the chance o' goin' in, an' he'll show you a man as
knows no backin' out."

"Enough, shipmate. The chance is close to hand; aboard o' this ship.
Below, in her cabin-lockers, there's stowed somethin' like half a ton o'
glitterin' gold-dust. It belongs to the old Spaniard that's passenger.
What's to hinder us to lay hands on it? If we can only get enough o'
the crew to say _yes_, there needs be no difficulty. Them as won't 'll
have to stan' aside. Though, from what I see o' them, it's like they'll
all come in. Divided square round, there'd be atween twenty an' thirty
thousand dollars apiece. Do that tempt ye. Striker?"

"Rayther. Wi' thirty thousand dollars I'd ne'er do another stroke o'
work."

"You needn't the