“I was never in anything like it before. It’s—it’s grand.”
“And you calculate to be the hero, eh?”
“We just are. We can’t help it. No heroes in stories start out to be heroes. Things just happen, and they have to be whether they want to or not. That’s how this is.”
“All right,” says Mr. Dunn, “go ahead and be a hero. I’m willing. Only be quick about it. I’m thirsty and this confounded tent pole is jamming a hole in my backbone. I’m all ready to be rescued now. Get busy and rescue me.”
“We’ve got to think about the treasure, too. It would be fairly easy to escape. But whoever heard of the good people escaping and leaving the treasure to the mutineers. I should say not.”
“Are you going to give me the treasure when you get it?” says Mr. Dunn kind of sarcastic.
“You.... No siree. That treasure belongs to the party on the Albatross—and we’re going to have it. All you get is to escape with your life. The minute we escape, you and I are enemies like we were before.”
“Did Mr. Topper describe this treasure to you?” says Mr. Dunn.
“No, but all buried pirate treasure is alike. Pieces-of-eight and jewels and Spanish things. The mutineers say there’s a million dollars worth of it. They’re going to take fifty thousand each and live happy forever after.”
“Hum.... They’re right about one thing, anyhow. It’s worth all of a million.”