"Upham should have thought of that before. Leave him alone. He lies in the bed he made."
"He, poor man, does not think of it now. Indeed, I fear he's beyond saving."
Gideon North got up and went to the barred windows that opened upon the street.
"What is this wild-goose chase?" he suddenly demanded.
"Exactly what the object is I do not know," Arnold replied. "They talk of a treasure, but they are fit to rule an empire of liars. They are not, I believe, equipped for the slave trade, though of that you are a better judge than I."
Still Gideon North stood by the window. Without turning his head, he remarked, "I wonder why they want me back."
"They?" At that Arnold laughed. "They do not want you. Not they! Seth Upham insisted against their every wish. We came to your door with a press-gang at our heels. They planned that Joe and I should share Sim Muzzy's fate and never see you again—or them."
Thereupon Captain North turned about.
"I am interested," he said. "Aye, and tempted."