'Did you want to steal the gold yourself?'
'No,' cried the boy angrily.
'Then you were afraid of something. By heaven! I have it. You rip! 'twas you gave warning to Ephraim Shine. You deserve six months.'
'Shame!' murmured Mrs. Hardy.
''Tisn't fair!' expostulated Dick's mother. Dick's lips were closed again, and he stared defiantly at the detective.
'Well, well,' groaned Downy, 'this is the most extraordinary thing in boys that I have ever encountered, but he's a mass of grit—for good or bad, all grit. Shake hands, Dick.'
Dick brightened up, and shook hands cheerfully.
'You're quite sure about that gold? You hid it securely?' queried the detective.
'Yes, I buried it under the reef quite safe.'
'And nobody knows of this hole but yourself?'