“’Nother thing, m’ son, ’cordin’ to my notions this ain’t goin’ ter be a partic’laly healthy place fer ’Mericans in a day er two. Now thet they have bamboozled the Queen (an’ she herself is as squar’ a little woman as ever lived) inter gittin’ Danbury outer th’ city, an’ now thet the fight is won fer ’em, an’ now thet th’ boys we brought is about ter raise hell (as they certainly is), Otaballo ain’t goneter be squeamish ’bout removin’ quiet like and safe everyone who bothers him. In three days we might not be able to git out long ’nuff to git tergether an outfit er ask any questions. There’s a whole lot ’bout thet map o’ yourn thet we wanter understan’ afore we starts, as I looks at it.”
“There is some sense in that.”
“It’s a simple proposition; does ye want ter gamble on losin’ both chances fer th’ sake of savin’ a week, or does yer wanter make sure of one fer the double treasure––gold and girl?”
“I’d give every penny of the treasure to get the girl in my grip once again.”
“Ye’ve gotter git yer treasure fust afore ye can even do thet.”
“I know it. I’m powerless as things are. If there is a treasure there and we can get it, we’ll have something to work with. If I had the money now, I’d have fifty men on his track, and I’d post a hundred along the trail to the lake to intercept him.”
“If ye’d had the treasure, likely ’nuff ye wouldn’t have started. But ye ain’t gut it an’ ye is a long, long way from gettin’ it. But if ye don’t divide yer intrests, we is goin’ ter git it, an’ arter that we is goin’ ter git th’ girl, if she’s anywhere atop th’ earth.”
“I believe you, Stubbs,” answered Wilson, with renewed enthusiasm. “And I believe that with you we can do it. We’ll make a bargain now; share and share alike every cent we find. Give me your hand on it.”
Stubbs reached his big hand across the table and the two men shook.