ease to help
or do anything whatever for you--which means, that even should you
succeed in obtaining the treasure that you are after, you will never be
able to take it home and enjoy it. Now, think over what I have said,
and let me know your decision as soon as you have made up your mind.
But do not you ever again attempt to coerce me by uttering threats of
violence to the lady, for it will not do! My chief stipulation is that
she shall be as absolutely secure from insult or injury among you as
though she were under the protection of her father's roof, and I mean
that she shall be so, or I will send the whole lot of you to the devil,
even if I have to accompany you."

To defy the whole gang in so uncompromising a manner was undoubtedly a
bold game to play, but it proved to be the right thing to do; for as I
stared the Irishman unshrinkingly in the eyes I saw his gaze wavering
under mine, and presently his scowling expression relaxed into a smile
as he exclaimed:

"Begorra, Misther Conyers, ye're a brave man intoirely to brazen the
thing out in that stoyle, one against sixteen of us. But it's yourself
that knows right well that ye've got the pull of us, by raison of your
eddicashin, so I suppose we may as well let ye have your own way, and
make no more bones about it. All we want is your help to find the
threasure and get it safely home; and if ye'll give us that ye may have
your own way in ivery thing else; it'll make no real differ to us."

"Very well," said I; "you are now speaking like a reasonable and
sensible man, and it is a bargain between us that I shall afford you the
fullest possible assistance to carry out your schemes--so far as they
may be lawful--upon the terms and conditions which I have stipulated.
Now, if you will let me have your paper, in order that I may study it as
a whole, I shall perhaps be able to gather the writer's full meaning,
and thus enable you to find the exact spot of which you are in search.
Meanwhile, you had better go ashore again, and give your immediate
attention to the few little matters that I mentioned just now, before
you lost your temper."

The fellow hesitated a moment, gazing doubtfully and still somewhat
distrustfully at me, and then, with a sigh, handed over the paper to my
keeping. Then, without a word, he turned away, went down over the side
into his boat, and was forthwith pulled ashore.

As the boat shoved off from the brig's side, I opened the paper and
glanc