Bartlett—[Pointing to the contents of the chest.] Is it gold—or not?
Butler—If I can feel of one——
Bartlett—Pick one up.
Butler—[Picks up a heavy anklet encrusted with colored glass, looks at it for a minute—then feigning great assurance.] I was wrong, Captain. It’s gold all right enough—worth all kinds of money, I bet.
Bartlett—[With mad triumph.] Ha! Ye’ve come to your senses, have ye? Too late, ye swab! No share for ye! And here’s to teach ye for lyin’ to me before! [His fist jerks out from his side, and Butler is knocked sprawling on the sand, where he lies groaning for a moment, the anklet still clutched in his hand. The boy gives a gasp of fright and scampers off, left.]
Bartlett—That’ll learn ye! [He sits down beside the chest. The others crouch close. Bartlett shoves in both of his hands—in a tone of mad gloating.] Gold! Better’n whaling, ain’t she, boys? Better’n ambergris, even if I ever had luck to find any! [Butler staggers to his feet. He examines the anklet with contemptuous scorn and even bites it to make sure. Then he edges stealthily toward the left. A sudden transformation comes over his face and he glowers at the Captain with hatred, his features distorted with fury.]
Jimmy Kanaka—[Pointing to Butler.] He got him, Captain!
Bartlett—[Glancing at the cook with contemptuous scorn.] Sneakin’ away with that piece o’ the gold, be ye? Ye thievin’ swine! Ye know right enough it’s gold now, don’t ye? Well, ye kin keep it—for your share for speakin’ the truth that once.
Horne—[His cupidity protesting.] Don’t give it to him, sir! It’s so much the less for us that worked for it when he did nothin’!
Butler—[Overcome by hysterical rage—stammering.] Who asked you for it—eh? Who—wants the dam thing? Not me! No! You damned lunatics! You oughter all be in the asylum? [Holding the anklet out contemptuously.] Gold? Ha-ha! This junk? I just bit it to make sure. Gold? Brass, that’s what—and pieces of glass! Junk! Not worth a dam. Here! Take it! You can have it! [He flings it on the sand before them. Bartlett snatches it up protectingly.]