“Yes, well, maybe we got different notions about that!” retorted Chirk. “Seems to me your notion o’ what’s famous ain’t by any means mine!”
“Be quiet! A fine rank-rider you are, to turn as melancholy as a gibed cat at the hint of a risk!”
“Hint? Hint of a risk?” interpolated Chirk indignantly.
“That’s all. Now, you listen carefully to what you must do, and see you don’t forget anything!”
“I thought it wouldn’t be long before you took it into your head I was one of them troopers of yours,” commented Chirk rebelliously.
“If any trooper of mine ever argued with me as you do, I’d have him under guard before the cat could lick her ear! Stubble it! I’ve told Stogumber that you have found the gold, but that I would not let you divulge the hiding-place to him until my plans were completed. I told him also that Stornaway is nothing but a sapskull, and knows nothing of the robbery. Whether he believes that or not is no matter: he will believe it. You will tell him that Stornaway, when it was shown to him that Coate had been using him as a mask, readily agreed to use his best endeavours to discover where the treasure had been hidden, and—like you!—suspected the cavern might be the place. You will then tell him that I have baited my trap, and you will take him to the cavern. He can borrow the landlord’s cob, and you must both be there a full hour before eight o’clock. You will see fast enough if Coate has entered the cavern. If he has not, take the horses well beyond it, and tether them, and yourselves find cover within sight of the cave-mouth. And then wait! When Coate enters the cavern, which I am persuaded he will do as soon as I am safely inside it, follow him, but not so close that he will see or hear you until he has reached the main chamber. Do you perfectly understand? It will not suit me at all for Stogumber to arrest him before that moment.”
“Out of course it wouldn’t!” agreed Chirk, with deceptive cordiality. “Why, if Stogumber and me was to do the trick afore he got into the cavern, you wouldn’t be able to play at hide-and-seek in the dark with as nasty a pair o’ cutthroat culls as ever I see!”
“Exactly so!” said John gravely. “But, you see, I have very good reason for what I am doing. Don’t forget that I shall be expecting Coate, and so shall not be taken by surprise! Unless he can see me clearly, he won’t risk a shot at me, and you know how little light two lanterns afforded us in that place! If it comes to a struggle, why, I fancy I should be able to hold my own against the fellow! Come! Promise me that you’ll do precisely as you’re bid! If you don’t, you may well bring all to ruin!”
After a long pause, and with every sign of reluctance, Chirk gave him the required promise. John gripped his hand, and got up. “Excellent fellow! I’m off to snatch a few hours’ sleep now: I’ll rouse you at six o’clock.”
There were several points on which Mr. Chirk would have liked to have received some further information, but he had by this time reached a very fair estimate of Captain Staple’s character, and he wasted no time in asking questions which, he gloomily knew, would only be fobbed off. Stretching himself out on his improvised bed, he philosophically went to sleep.