A COMPACT OF IMPORTANCE.
"It's certainly a strange story," mused Dick, and looked questioningly
at the other club members, and at Danny, who stood at the doorway,
taking in with wide open eyes all that was being said.
"Sure, an' if I was youse fellers I'd hunt up dat gold!" remarked the
Irish lad. "Twenty t'ousand dollars! Dat's a regular—er—mint, dat is!"
"It's not ours to hunt up," answered Bob; but he looked at Dick
questioningly, nevertheless.
"You want to know what I think of your story," said the leader of the
club, addressing the man they had saved. "I think it's a mighty
interesting yarn."
"And where are you bound?"
"We were bound for Savannah, to take on some extra ship's stores. But
the storm made us turn out to sea again, and the wind has carried us a
good bit out of our course."
"It looks to me as if you lads were out for pleasure."
"You are right. We form an organization known as the Gun and Sled Club.
Last winter we spent a large part of our time in the woods and had
immense fun. This spring my uncle left me this yacht, and we decided to
sail down the Atlantic coast as far as Florida, and then go hunting and
fishing and sporting generally. But I guess it's time we introduced
ourselves;" and Dick proceeded to go through the usual form for all
hands but old Jacob, who was still on deck, in sole charge, now that the
storm was over.
The introduction and hand-shaking made everybody feel more at home, and
Robert Menden questioned several of them concerning the contemplated
outing. "I presume you will land me at either Savannah or in Florida,"
he concluded.
"Supposing we land you in Porto Rico?" said Bob, with a sudden twinkle
in his eye.
"Will you do that?" asked Robert Menden, quickly.
"It's a pretty good sail for the Dashaway," said Bob, thoughtfully. "But
I think it would be all right—if we could make the stores hold out."
"Hurrah! let us go to Porto Rico!" shouted Leander, who stood by. "I
wanted to say go before, but I hardly dared."
"Can you go if you want to?" questioned the Englishman, as he gazed from
one to another of the boys.
"Certainly," said Dick. "We can go where we please, for our time is our
own, and so is our money—what little there is of it. We are not
millionaires' sons, you know," he added, with a smile. "We are working
this outing on as cheap a scale as possible."
"You are better off than I, who haven't a pound——"
"But you'll get that treasure—" broke in Don.
"Perhaps." Robert Menden looked very thoughtful. "Boys, I have a
proposal to make to you."
"I'm ready for it, and I'll say 'yes' in advance," cried Leander.
"Then you know what is in my mind," laughed the Englishman.
"You want us to take you to Porto Rico?"
"Yes."
"And want us to help you hunt for that treasure?"
"If you care to do so. And I will give you a share of what is found."
"How much?" asked Don, who was breathing hard, and fancied he had the
treasure already in his possession.
"That is a matter to be talked over. You see, I have lost my money, so
if we all go together, you will have to bear the expenses of the trip."
"We'll keep the expenses down—we'll have to do it," put in Dick. "What
kind of a bargain are you willing to make?"
Robert Menden thought for a moment. "I want to go to Porto Rico
immediately, so that I can reach that cave before Joseph Farvel. If you
set sail in that direction without delay, I think we can beat him, even
if he takes a steamer from Havana to Ponce."
"I guess you are right there," answered Leander. He got out a chart and
studied it for a moment. "At a rough estimate we are now about a
thousand miles from the coast of Porto Rico, while the distance to that
point from Havana, Cuba, is several hundred miles longer."
"And your enemy may have to lay over several days for a steamer," put in
Bob.
"If he thinks you are dead he won't hurry," added Dick. "Perhaps he will
stay in Havana for a week or two."
"That is what I was thinking," resumed Robert Menden. "Yet he is a very
greedy fellow, and he will want to lay hands on that gold just as
quickly as he can."
"Well, I guess anybody would want to do that," laughed Leander. "Such a
sum of money is not to be sneezed at."
"I am willing to sail for Porto Rico as soon as we can, but we ought to
have some ship's stores for such a long trip," said Dick. "We have no
fresh vegetables left, so Danny tells me."
"Well, you must do as you think best about that," answered the
Englishman. "But to get to business, as you Americans would say. If you
will take me to Porto Rico as speedily as you can, and accompany me on a
trip inland to where this cave is said to be located, and will bear all
expenses—making them as little as possible—I will agree to give you
one-quarter of all that is found."
"A quarter of twenty thousand dollars would be five thousand," said Bob.
"That's not bad."
"And, remember, the treasure may be worth thirty thousand—or more," put
in Leander. "I move this club take up with Mr. Menden's offer."
"I second the motion," cried Don, promptly.
"Ditto!" came from Bob.
"The motion is put—and carried unanimously," said Dick, almost as
quickly. "Mr. Menden, from henceforth we are at your service, so far as
our means afford and as long as we can keep out of positive danger."
"Let us put our agreement in writing," suggested Leander, who was going
to have no trip-up in the matter. This was also agreed to, and the tall
youth was set to work on the important document. When it was finished,
both Robert Menden and Dick signed it, and Danny Guirk and old Jacob
added their names as witnesses.
A long consultation was had, and it was resolved to run for St.
Augustine, on the Florida coast, and there procure such supplies as were
necessary.
The course of the Dashaway was changed, and the wind being still fresh,
they made good progress.
"Get your list ready," said Bob, "so we won't have to stay ashore any
longer than is necessary."
"I'm preparing the list now," answered Dick, who was consulting with
Danny. The Irish boy was in high delight, having been promised a round
hundred dollars extra, should the proposed hunt for the treasure prove
successful. Old Jacob had been put down for a like sum, also to the old
tar's satisfaction.
The run to St. Augustine proved without special interest. The boys found
Robert Menden a nice companion. The Englishman had not only travelled a
good bit, but had also been a great reader, and he was not above telling
a good story whenever called upon to do so.
"I had a pretty fair wardrobe," he said, on the morning following the
conversation just mentioned. "But now I haven't anything but what is on
my back."
"You can look over the things on the yacht," replied Dick. "Some of
them, I think, will fit you—and what else must be had can be purchased
in St. Augustine."
Since the start from home all of the boys had taken a deep interest in
the yacht, and old Jacob had succeeded in making a fairly good sailor of
each of them. But there were still many things to learn, and now Robert
Menden announced that he would take lessons in seamanship, too.
"I don't want you to think I am lazy," he said. "I am just as willing to
work as anybody. I expect by the time Porto Rico is reached I'll be a
regular old salt."
"We can't get to that island fast enough for me," cried Bob. "I'm crazy
to get at that treasure." And he felt like dancing a jig for joy, little
dreaming of all the thrilling adventures and grave perils in store for
the party.