I'm sellin' the schooner for twenty thousand. I left word in
Manila at your bank that you had a mind to buy, an' you'd pay ten
thousand. That's a fair price. My bank thinks ye're goin to buy,
too, so that's another ten. I won't have no trouble cashin' two
checks on you. I cashed your checks in both banks before we left,
and they're sort o' trained to it."

"You're playing a dangerous game," said Locke. "Do I understand
you're to put us down in Manila and then go up to the banks and
cash checks on me?"

"No," said Jarrow. "You stay here on the island, hid away. If I
don't git the money, it's you who's playin' a dangerous game."

"But how are we to get away from here?" asked Locke.

"We'll send the schooner back, after we've had time to git clear of
Manila. May be five or six days after we git our money, but I'll
send it right enough. Of course, I could ask more, an' take a wide
chance, but I ain't hoggin' things. It ought to be worth gittin'
out without trouble for you folks. And ye'll git some of yer money
back out o' this old wagon. Say the word, an' I'll signal the boys
to come back, all peaceful, an' no shootin'. If ye don't want to
take it my way, I'm done talkin'. The others look for fight, an'
Peth's got my gun's well's his own. So, if you want fireworks, it
ain't my funeral."

"I'll take you up," said Locke, as he reached for his cigar-case.
"You'll let us have Tom--and what we need?"

"Everything ye want," said Jarrow, with satisfaction. "Only don't
come no didoes with me or the checks. If I ain't here to tell Peth
it's all right when he comes alongside, he'll cut loose on ye in
the dark."

"I'm giving you my word that we'll play fair, as you call it.
You'll get your checks, and all I ask is fair play in return."

"My way o' lookin' at it," said Jarrow. "I thought you'd find it a
open an' shut game, an' I spoke as I did so's you'd have time to
pack an' stow the boats, if ye don't want to stay aboard to-night.
But there ain't no call for you leavin' here 'less we git a wind."

"We'll take that up later," said Locke.

"I'd like a letter from you, as how ye've bought the schooner,"
said Jarrow. "Ye can say's ye've decided to remain here, and I'm to
attend to some things in Manila, so's it'll look natural like."

"As you say," said Locke. "If you'll fetch my coat, I'll write out
a check--the checks. And my pen's with the book."

"I'll bring some paper," said Jarrow, with a glance at Trask. "If
you do