“How?”
“I am not going to tell you now. The question is, ought I to tell Mr. Darwood? Would it be right to carry tales, even in a case like this?”
“Not knowing what the case is I can’t very well advise you,” answered Ned Rector.
“What did they say?”
“I’d rather not say a word about that until I have decided what to do.”
“You’re a queer chap, Tad. You arouse my curiosity; then you won’t satisfy it.”
“You shall know all about it in good time. Hark! Was that you who kicked the collar of the stack?”
“No. I didn’t hear anything. Who was the other man?”
“His name is Ainsworth. He is a prospector, too. They are together, he and the man Sandy. There are some others in the plot, as I learned from the conversation, but I hardly think they are on board. I take it that the others are to meet this party at Skagway, which proves to me that the plans of our friends, the four Gold Diggers, were learned by the plotters some time before the former set sail for the north country. Oh, it is a fine game of grab they are planning! But I believe that, 38if Mr. Darwood be warned in time, he will be perfectly able to take care of himself. I am quite sure I shouldn’t care to be the other fellow.”
“I don’t know why we should get so excited over it,” grumbled Ned. “Darwood and his companions are no friends of ours. I should say that quite the opposite is the case.”