"There is a certain matter of importance to be discussed, colonel," he announced. "I must have your attention."
O'Donnell nodded sulkily.
"As you know, the crew of my associate, Captain Flint, some of whom you saw in New York, are not under the same discipline as my own men. Captain Flint saw fit to express jealousy of the terms I arranged with your principals for the division of the treasure, and in order to conciliate him and assure him of my good faith I gave him my grandnephew and Master Corlaer as hostages. They went unwillingly and succeeded in escaping before we sailed, returned aboard the James and secreted themselves for several days. I dared not risk the time to return them to Flint, and I anticipate that he will receive me now with augmented suspicion."
"I said all along ye were crazy to let a low fellow like him have any hand in the affair," fumed O'Donnell.
"We need not go over that again," rejoined my great-uncle. "I must have the security of the Rendezvous, and for that I must needs pay Flint. Also, I may have need of him in other ways. This venture is not yet consummated. There is likewise the consideration that we have worked together in the past, and I owe him a modicum of loyalty."
"Loyalty to the Cause should come first," declared O'Donnell.
"True, sir, and I yield it. But I must look to the future. 'Tis contrary to my policy to break with Flint if it can be avoided. 'Tis similarly contrary to my instinct to trust him farther than I must, and in this immediate case I am loath to trust him."
"What's to do?" rasped O'Donnell. "Raise his price?"
"No, no. My suggestion is that we should stow away our friends' portion of the treasure before we return to the Rendezvous."
"Where?"