"The gold."
"Two hundred pounds worth. What have you done with it?"
"Naething. I hadnae one shullin' o' they sovereigns."
Kyles rose, and stood over the shrinking old man menacing and dark; and with a fierce expression on his swart face.
"Mr. Gowrie," he said very distinctly, "no one knows that you have been kidnapped, as no one saw the launch come up the creek. And I dare swear that you didn't tell anyone, when you came to look up your cache. You are here, in my power, and there's nothing whatever to prevent me from dropping you overboard, with a shot at your heels."
Gowrie, now truly frightened, grovelled with a cry of alarm.
"Nae, nae, dinna dae that. I ken naethin' aboot the siller. I never saw yon box until the noo, and I have nae set eyes on they notes."
"You liar."
"It's the truth. Ye ca' me a murderer. What then dae ye ca' Mistress Narby, wha acted the pairt o' Jael."
"Mrs. Narby?" ejaculated Kyles, with a start and a frown.