“No use, Bones! No use at all. As certain as I’m sitting here you two are up to something together. Now what is it?”
I did not answer.
“Bones,” he pleaded, “if this is a joke an’ you leave me out in the cold, I’ll never forgive you. I’ll—I’ll die of grief an’ come back to manifest on ye when I’m dead. What were ye laughing about like that, you and Hill? When I see two fellows in your position as happy as larks, I want to share! Why—you’re laughing now! It’s a ramp, I’m sure it’s a ramp! For pity’s sake let me in! I’ll keep it as dark as Erebus! Let me help you. Is there anything I can do?”
“I daresay there is, Doc., but you might burn your fingers.”
“Blow my fingers!” he said. “You must tell me now! If you don’t I’ll—I’ll go straight to Maule and tell him my suspicions.”
“You souper!” said I. “Just to keep you from harming us with your confounded theories, I’ll have to tell you as much as is good for you. You remember the revolver stunt?”
He nodded.
“This is an extension of it. We are looking for a buried treasure for the Turks. We wanted to get moved away from the rest of the camp so as to have peace to carry out our plans and do the thing in style. The trial was just a ramp to get us moved. It was all rehearsed beforehand.”
“Gosh!” Doc. cried, “so the Pimple is in the know with you?”
“And the Commandant,” I said.