Jimmie was about to spring forward for the purpose of making an assault on the provision chest when Ned caught him by the arm and held him back. Jimmie scowled but remained silent.
“Listen!” Ned said in a very low whisper. “There are people talking in the cave! I propose to find out what’s going on before making my appearance. Get the boys farther away,” he went on, “and I’ll see what I can learn. We may not be out of trouble yet.”
“Why, that’s the person that came in with the mule train,” whispered Jimmie. “Anyone ought to know that!”
“I don’t know whether it is or not!” Ned insisted. “Get the boys away and keep still, all of you.”
Gilroy opened his mouth to protest against being separated from the supply of food so near at hand, but Jimmie clapped a hand over his lips and led him away by main force. Then Ned crouched under the stones of the barrier and listened.
“It’s all up with you, Bosworth!” he heard the voice of Toombs saying. “You played your last card when you came in here in person, and I’ve taken the trick! Now you may as well be good!”
“No game is ever played out until the last card is on the table!” Jack’s father was heard to say. “You said when you came in here,” the lawyer went on, “that you would give me information of my son.”
“All in good time!” replied Toombs. “I understand,” the Wall street man continued “that you have in your possession papers showing the location of a very valuable mine known to exist in this section hundreds of years ago. Inform me as to the location of this mine, and I’ll inform you fully regarding your son.”
“Toombs,” Bosworth replied, “I wouldn’t trust you with a dirty bone that a dog wouldn’t take from my hand. You’re one of the pirates of Wall street! You never earned an honest dollar in your life. There are murders which might be laid at your door. You have wrecked private fortunes, and are no more to be trusted than a deadly rattler!”
Ned chuckled at this arraignment of the man who had given him so much trouble. The conversation certainly was amusing to him.