Takyak regarded the boy for a moment, his eyes, still piercing in spite of the shadows of suffering in them, gazing directly into Bobby’s.
“Ah,” he said, “so you did overhear our talk about the treasure. I was sure of it. So was Captain Garrish—the rascal! The wretch!” His anger seemed to banish pain for a moment, and his face glowed with wrath.
“He tried to—to steal from me,” he cried, his trembling hand waving violently above his head. “He would have the treasure for himself! He would take my share, mine! And, but for me, Chief Takyak, he would never have known there was a treasure. The treasure is mine, mine! I alone know how to get it and I give the secret to you. You boys have all been kind to me. You are honest boys. And you saved my life when the circus pole fell. You must find the treasure and Garrish must not have it. You hear—none of it!”
“You needn’t worry,” said Bobby, with a bitter memory of harsh treatment at the hands of Captain Garrish. “You can bet I’d never be the one to give him anything.”
Then he looked at Takyak in alarm. After his fit of temper the man had collapsed, he seemed utterly exhausted. His gaunt form relaxed against the pillows and he panted for breath.
“Is there anything I can do?” cried Bobby, feeling helpless in the face of this emergency. “Shall I get somebody?”
Takyak shook his head, and with a faint motion of his hand indicated that he wanted Bobby to remain where he was. After a moment, during which he struggled with his breath, the old chief went on again.
“Mooloo will—take you to—the wrecked ship,” he said, his voice halting and sounding very weak and far away. “After that you will have to work alone.”
“Doesn’t Mooloo know anything about the treasure?” asked Bobby, and Takyak wearily shook his head. He seemed very weak, and for a moment leaned back among his pillows, apparently gathering strength for a last effort. Meanwhile Bobby’s thoughts were whirling madly. Sympathy for the stricken Takyak was mingled with a wild longing to be away from the cabin, to get by himself where he might think up plans for the great adventure before him and his chums.
He came out of his reverie to hear Takyak speaking again.