"You may find one or two, but if they get wind you are on board the
'Heron' they will clear out quick, you may be sure of that."
"Let me lay hands on them, and they'll wish they had never been born,"
said Jacob.
Barry Tuxford went into Jack's cabin and inspected the pearls. He was
delighted with them and said--
"There will be a good division of profits out of this lot. Good pearls
are scarce and dear, and Silas Filey is on the look out for some."
"Silas is always knocking around when there is a chance of a deal," said
Jacob. "It takes a clever man to bargain with him, but I think you are
equal to it. What do you think our pearls are worth?"
"I cannot say off hand, but some hundreds of pounds, and then there is
the shell. I shall equip another lot of schooners as soon as possible,
and send you out again," said Barry.
"I am willing to go," said Jacob, "and I can speak for Phil and Hake
Moss. I don't know whether the 'new chums' will tackle the job again."
"I want Mr. Redland ashore if he will stay," said Barry. "I have
something more in his line than pearling."
"I enjoyed the trip," said Jack, "but I shall be glad to stay with you
for a time. Have you discovered a champion amongst your horses?" he
asked smiling.
"I think you will find one or two worth riding," said Barry. "At any
rate, you can try them, and give me the benefit of your opinion."
"With pleasure," replied Jack. "It will be a treat to be on the back of
a good horse again, and have a rousing gallop."
"It will not be long before you have an opportunity," replied Barry. "We
will talk the matter over when you come ashore with me. I like to keep
the fellows waiting, so shall remain here until the 'Wild Cat' arrives.
I should not be at all surprised if Silas comes off to see us; he's
desperately eager to find out all about the trip."
"We must keep it to ourselves," said Jacob. "I have no doubt we shall be
followed next time, but we can put them off the scent with a little
trouble."
"Where is this bay?" asked Barry.
"In the north-west, about four hundred miles beyond Shark's Bay, and
it's a rum place to find," said Phil. "I doubt if we should have struck
it if we had not seen Jacob's signal."
"Then you found him in the bay?"
"Yes; and he'd hoisted a flag on the rock jutting out to sea. It was
about the best use he could have made of his shirt," laughed Phil.
"There's something more to tell you," said Jack Redland. "It is the only
bit of bad luck we had on the voyage."
"Then it will keep," said Barry smiling. "Tell it me when we go ashore.
Whatever it is I am quite satisfied with all you have done, and we
cannot expect to always have good luck."
"It was beastly bad luck," said Jacob, "but you can never trust those
black beggars. Mr. Redland will tell you how it happened, and you are
the man to recover the pearl."
"You've let it out now," said Phil laughing.
"A pearl? What pearl? Did you lose a valuable pearl?" asked Barry.
"We did," said Jack, "a black pearl. I may as well tell you all about
it."