!"

"Why, think o' that now, think of that! And you wi'--a fortun' o'
pearls on you, Marty. These pearl studs and buttons, lad. Pearls--ha,
pearls was meat and drink to Bartlemy. And here's you wi' pearls I've
seen on Bartlemy many a time. And yet you ha'n't found the treasure,
says you. If I was a passionate man, Marty, I should call ye liar,
says I. Howsoever what I do say is--as you've forgot, and very right
and proper. But we'm friends, you and me, so far, and so, 'twixt
friends, I ask you to think again until you remember, and to think
hard, lad, hard."

Now as I sat (and miserably enough) staring down at my jewelled buttons
that seemed to leer up at me like so many small, malevolent eyes, upon
the air rose a distant stir that grew and grew to sound of voices with
the creak and rumble of oars.

"Here come my lambs at last, Marty, and among 'em some o' the lads as
sailed wi' Bartlemy aboard the 'Delight.' There's Sam Spraggons for
one--Smiling Sam as you'll mind aboard the 'Faithful Friend.' Now the
Smiler knoweth many and divers methods of persuasion, Marty lad, tricks
learned of the Indians as shall persuade a man to anything in this
world. But first, seeing 'tis you, Martin, as played 'bonnet' to me
and saved my life aboard ship, though all unknowing, here's my offer:
show me how to come by Bartlemy's Treasure as is mine--mine by rights,
let me get my hands on to it and none the wiser, and there shall be
share for you, Marty lad, share for you. Otherwise I must let Sam try
to persuade you to remember where it lieth--come, what d'ye say?"

"What--you'll torture me then?"

"If I must, friend, if I must. 'Tis for you to say."

"Why then 'twill be labour in vain, Tressady, for I swear I know nought
of this treasure--"

"Sit still, lad, sit still!" says he, clapping the pistol to my ear
again. "Though a fool in many ways, Marty, you're proper enough man to
look at and 'twill be pity to cripple ye! Aye, there won't be much
left when Sam is done wi' you, more's the pity."

Hereupon he hailed loudly and was answered from the lagoon, and
glancing thither, I saw two boats crowded with men pulling for the
beach.

"A wildish company, Martin, desperate fellows as ever roved the Main,
as I do love no more than they love me. So say the word and we'll
share Black Bartlemy's treasure betwixt us, just you and me, lad, me
and you! Come, what's your will?" But shaking my head (and hopelessly
enough) I se