n
there."

"I am sure that Angelique and I could hide them away for a year or else
safely forever there," cried Jack Blunt, in a hoarse whisper. "It's only
a matter of money and damme if I believe you've got any! If you fool
us, you'll never get out of here alive!" Major Hawke only smiled, and
dropped his hands lightly on the butts of two heavy bull-dog revolvers
ready there in his velveteen trousers' pockets.

"Jack! Don't be an ass!" he said. "I play this game to win. Do you think
that I would bring my ready money into this murder pen? Now, tell me
what you will take in cash, to tell me where the old miser has hidden
the stuff I want? And how much will you take to do the job? I want to
know when they return, and I want your help and the aid of the gang. You
are to crack the crib--alone--while they are away, and then we, perhaps,
may meet them, on their way home. The lugger lying off in that cove to
the north of Rozel Head, below the old martello tower."

"Have you been over there?" amazedly cried Blunt.

"Oh! I know every inch of the place of old," laughed Hawke, still with
his hands on his revolvers.

"Well, Major," said Jack, pouring out a cognac, "I'll take, first, five
hundred pounds cash for the information. Another five hundred for the
job, with a quarter of what we get. And this second sum you can put up
with Etienne Garcin. You can pay him now the two hundred for the men
and the boat, out of that, and give me the rest of the odd change later.
We'll never lose sight of each other after we start. For the Hirondelle
will not leave me in the lurch. I've sworn never to wear the widow's
jewelry again." Jack Blunt's eyes were devilish in their glare.

"So, it's five hundred pounds down now, and I can order the expedition
on, after the payment. You'll give me on the instant all the news from
Mattie Jones of the intended return, for I propose to have some fun with
the Professor."

"Honor bright," said Jack forcibly. "For we will all hang or 'go to
quod' together, if there's a break once that we begin. We had better
start when I get her next letter, for Mattie is to write me to the
Jersey Arms and then telegraph there, too, from Southampton. I'll have
one of the crew pipe them off from the pier home to the Tolly, and a
half dozen of the boys will be in hiding, ready for work. So you can
work your scheme as you will."

"It's a go, then. Come on, now, and get your money," said Hawke, as
he led the way to the nea