"We'll let him have it, I can get it back again."
"How?"
"Never mind. I'll have it or----"
"What?"
"I'll have his life. He's a brute."
Miah shivered, he knew Kylis would be as good as his word.
Amos came back with the money in gold, and placed it on a box.
"Now give me the pearl," he said. Kylis handed it to him, and snatched
up the money.
Amos Hooker looked at the pearl for some time; he was surprised at its
size and purity, he had never seen one like it before, it would be
difficult to dispose of.
There was one man he might get a fair price from, Silas Filey, but he
hardly knew how to approach him. Silas was acquainted with some of his
past life and could make things very unpleasant for him if he chose.
He left the tent with the pearl, satisfied that he had in his possession
a gem worth a thousand pounds at least. If he only ventured to Fremantle
with it and offered it for open sale he would get much more; this,
however, he dare not do.
How to communicate with Silas, that was the difficulty. He puzzled his
brains to think how it could be done. Should he send a man from Shark's
Bay to see him? There was no one he dare trust on such an errand, for
although he was recognised as "the boss," he was more hated than feared,
and there were none who would neglect an opportunity of benefiting
themselves at his expense.
Some weeks went by, and he still had the pearl safely hidden away, and
even Kylis had not been able to discover where it was concealed.
Schooners from Fremantle often put into Shark's Bay, and one evening the
"Swan" sailed in and anchored.
A boat came ashore from her, and a man inquired for Amos Hooker, and
handed him a letter.
It was from Silas Filey, and he read it with difficulty. When he had
fully understood its contents he flew into a furious passion. Silas had
taken the bull by the horns with a vengeance, he knew his man and wrote
accordingly. Had Barry Tuxford been at his elbow he might have gone
about it in a different way, but it would not have proved so effective.
The letter stated clearly that he, Silas Filey, had definite information
that Amos Hooker had in his possession a valuable black pearl, which had
been stolen from Jack Redland, on board the schooner "Heron," by a black
diver named Kylis. This diver had been sent out with the schooner to the
pearl fisheries, in company with another black, named Miah, for the
express purpose of committing a robbery, the proceeds of which were to
be handed over to Amos Hooker.
Having given him a shock that he knew would stagger him, Silas went on
to write--
"The black pearl must be handed over to the man who gives you this
letter, or the consequences will be serious. The case of the 'Mary
Hatchett' has not been forgotten in Fremantle, and there is such a thing
as being placed on trial for murder on the high seas. I know you and
your little games, Amos Hooker, and there is one of your intended
victims here now, who would be only too glad to give evidence against
you. The black steward of the 'Mary Hatchett' escaped, and he, too, is
here, ready to swear your life away. There is an open warrant for your
arrest out, and an officer on board the 'Swan' has it in his possession.
He does not know you are at Shark's Bay, but if you do not give up the
pearl my man has another letter which he will deliver to him; you can,
no doubt, guess what its contents are. Hand over the pearl without any
fuss and you shall receive one hundred pounds down and not a penny more.
If you are wise you will do as I ask."
Amos Hooker glanced at the man who handed him the letter, he would have
been glad to strangle him. He was in a tumult of rage and walked away to
think over the letter and try and control himself.
"How long shall you be?" shouted the man. "We cannot wait here."
"I'll be back in half an hour," said Amos.
"Mind you bring it with you," was the reply.
"He knows all about it," thought Amos, and then, with a sudden fear, he
muttered--
"He may be the man with the warrant. No, that's not likely, he'd remain
on board. A hundred pounds for a pearl worth thousands, it's shameful."
He gave no thought to the manner in which it came into his possession,
he grudged parting with it for such a paltry sum. It was, however, the
best thing to do, in fact the only way. He would clear eighty pounds,
which was better than nothing, and at the same time secure a powerful
friend in Silas Filey, who might be very useful at another time if he
chose. There was no help for it, no way out of the trap Silas had laid
for him. That old affair of the "Mary Hatchett," if stirred up, would
prove very bad for him, it might mean a halter round his neck, and there
was a man on the "Swan" empowered to take him into custody.
He took the black pearl from its hiding place, and handled it fondly.
What cursed luck it was to have to part with it in this way. No doubt
Silas had been set on by Barry Tuxford to get the pearl back, it was a
smart move on his part. He walked slowly back, and when he reached the
boat, called the man on one side.
"You are to hand over a hundred pounds to me."
"In exchange for a black pearl, which has been described to me, and
which I must see."
"Here it is."
The man examined it carefully, and was apparently satisfied with his
scrutiny.
"Here is the money," he said, giving Amos a small, heavy bag. "You can
count it if you like, but it is quite correct."
"It's a barefaced robbery, I have been forced into it," said Amos, in a
rage.