A shrill howl echoed the words.
"Don't 'ee believe mun, Cap'n Flint! 'Tis all a lie! And 'ee promised I should ha' t' beatin' o' mun."
"'Tis true," I said wearily. "After sunrise you can send in a man to see for himself."
"Ah!" jeered Flint. "But ye see I'm not waiting for sunup or moonset or aught else, my Buckskin. We know how many o' ye there are; and if ye don't surrender, why, we'll put a torch to the blockhouse and roast ye out. Fire won't hurt gold and silver, but 'tain't friendly to live meat."
"'Twill cost you something first," I retorted.
"Not so much as ye might think."
"Dot's right," squeaked Peter beside me. "Ja, you better make a bargain wit' him, Bob."
"A bargain," I repeated. "What on earth can we bargain with?"
"Der treasure on der Dead Man's Chest."
"But that is——"