SPARWICK LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
Bogle and Raikes exchanged quick glances which Sparwick did not see. The
latter was by far the tallest and strongest of the three. Doubtless this
fact was taken into consideration by his companions.
"Keep cool," expostulated Bogle. "No need to fly into a temper. We want
to discuss this thing peaceably."
"That'll suit me," said Sparwick. "I'm to have square dealing, then,
am I?"
"Of course you are," assured Raikes.
"It depends on what you call square," hastily added Bogle. "I hope
you'll look at it the same way we do. In the first place, Sparwick, you
want to remember that Raikes and I have had all the trouble and expense
of working this thing up. It was planned weeks ago; and look what we had
to contend with before we got the lad in our hands. Would it be fair for
you to chip in and demand a big slice out of our hard-earned reward?"
There was no reply. Sparwick gazed straight at the table. There was an
expression on his face which his companions neither noticed nor
understood.
"I see you are taking a sensible view of it," resumed Bogle. "To come
right to the point, this is what Raikes and I will do: When the matter
is settled and we lay our hands on the money, we will give you five
hundred dollars--the original sum you had counted on getting. The
condition attached to this is that you remain here while Raikes is in
New York, and help me to guard these three lads. I'll admit that Raikes
promised you a thousand dollars, but he did that before he had a
chance to consult me. That's what I call square dealing. How does it
strike you?"
Sparwick had meanwhile seated himself. Now he rose and leaned across the
table. He shook his fist in Bogle's face. He glared at him with flashing
eyes and quivering nostrils.
"Liar! skunk!" he snarled. "Yes, an' you, too, Raikes. You're a pair
of cussed skinflints. You'd sneak out of your bargain, would you? You'd
offer me a dirty five hundred dollars to help do your dirty work, while
each of you pockets purty near five thousand? If you'd stuck to the
thousand you promised, you'd have found me fair an' square. But
now----"
Rage got the better of Sparwick. His right arm shot out and took Bogle
on the face with such stunning force as to topple him over backward. He
was quickly up again, with blood streaming from a badly smashed nose.
"Hit him, Raikes, hit him!" he cried, with an interlarding of
trooper-like oaths.
But before Raikes could make up his mind, a backhanded blow caused him
to turn a somersault over the bench. He was a plucky fellow, and as
quickly as possible he was on his feet.
The boys felt like cheering. They waited in keen suspense for the end
of the struggle. Would the result bring them freedom or captivity?
The next move on Sparwick's part was a sudden and unexpected one. He
dodged Raikes from the rear and sprang upon the table. He jumped down on
the other side and rushed toward the fireplace, his object being to
seize the rifles.
His enemies knew this, and they did their best to checkmate him. Bogle
thrust out his foot, and when Sparwick tripped heavily to the floor, he
threw himself upon his back.
He was instantly reinforced by Raikes, yet the two together were less
than a match for the big fellow; at least, when he was in such a
desperate mood. Sparwick fought from underneath for a few seconds,
dealing and receiving blows. Then he strained every muscle and rose
slowly up, with his foes still clinging to him. He shook them off as a
panther would scatter a pack of hounds.
Bogle fell in one direction, and Raikes in another. They had no desire
to renew the struggle on the same terms. As soon as they could get to
their feet, they sped across the room, and snatched two rifles from
above the door. These Sparwick had not observed, but meanwhile he had
captured a loaded weapon from over the fireplace.
This led, oddly enough, to a drawn game. On the very instant when
Sparwick drew a bead on the foremost of his enemies, both Raikes and
Bogle leveled their weapons straight at his breast. There was a brief
and awful pause. Why neither party opened fire it is impossible to say.
Some strange instinct stayed their hands.
"Put them weapons down," said Sparwick, in calm tones.
"Lower yours first," replied Raikes.
"Not likely," muttered Sparwick. "I can't trust two such lyin' skunks
an' sneaks."
There was another pause. Then Raikes let the barrel of his weapon fall.
Bogle instantly did the same.
"Your turn, Sparwick," he said, suddenly. "I'm a peaceable man, and
would go a good deal out of my way any time to avoid bloodshed. So the
thousand dollars is yours; I give you my word on it. It's not a square
deal, though. You ought to have been satisfied with five hundred."
"That ain't my way of thinkin'," replied Sparwick, as he slightly
lowered his rifle; "and as for the offer of a thousand, why, that's come
too late. What I want now is five thousand, an' I'm going ter have it or
bust this game."
This audacious statement made Raikes and Bogle fairly gasp for breath.
"Five thousand dollars!" screamed Bogle. "What do you take us for? Do
you expect us to give you half of the whole sum?"
In his anger, he lifted his rifle again.
"Drop that," cried Sparwick. "If you do it another time, I'll put a
bullet through you. I'm one against two, an' if it comes to a shootin'
match, possibly I might get wiped out; but I reckon you won't kill me
for fear of hangin'. An' I reckon you'll agree ter what I ask, since if
you refuse, your game is up. I don't mean that you should give me half
of the ten thousand. We'll go shares alike. Make the lad write them
letters over ag'in an' change the figger to fifteen thousand. That will
give us five thousand apiece. Make up your minds purty quick. I'm in the
game fur full shares, an' I intend to stay."
It was evident that Sparwick meant every word, and would submit to no
arbitration. He glanced calmly and aggressively at the two baffled
rascals, conscious that he had turned the tables upon them.
Bogle glanced at Raikes, and in that glance was a subtle meaning, known
only to the two. In a contest of wits and cunning, Sparwick was
immeasurably their inferior.
"Your greediness will spoil the whole game," growled Bogle. "It's flying
mighty high to ask ten thousand dollars. If we make it fifteen thousand,
this lawyer will likely pitch us overboard and appeal to the police."
"The one amount would be paid as quickly as t'other," replied Sparwick.
"To a man as well off as John Larkins is reckoned to be, five thousand
dollars ain't anything. Is it yes or no?"
"It's yes," muttered Bogle. "It couldn't well be anything else, since
you've got the drop on Raikes and me. We'll carry the thing out as you
say. Only if they stick at the amount, you'll shoulder the blame."
"If the thing is well done, there won't be any stickin'," said Sparwick.
His aggressive manner disappeared as he stepped forward and laid his
rifle on the table.
Raikes and Bogle did the same. Their faces assumed a good humored
expression that seemed to say: "We are going to take our defeat
gracefully." The next minute the three men were conversing on amiable
terms.
It was now past midday. Raikes at once began to prepare dinner. Bogle
and Sparwick overhauled the contents of the two sleds and stored the
dishes and provisions away in the cupboard.
The meal was a good one, and well cooked. The boys were treated kindly,
and given all they could eat. In spite of their unpleasant situation,
they had keen appetites.
After dinner, writing materials were brought out, and Brick was called
upon to rewrite the two letters. He demurred at first, but a few
unpleasant threats and a glimpse of the narrow closet finally led to his
yielding.
The steel bracelets were then locked upon his wrists again. Jerry and
Hamp were also placed beyond the possibility of escape by having their
arms tightly bound behind their backs with ropes.