After they had eaten their fill, they spread their blankets beside the fire. It was a time when men’s tongues are loosened and Tim waited patiently. He felt that in good time, Ford would tell him the story of his efforts to learn the whereabouts of the Southern Queen and the treasure in gold which it held.
“How much do you know about my plans to recover the gold in the Southern Queen?” he asked.
“To be frank, I don’t know a great deal,” admitted Tim. “When you came to Atkinson as 'Mr. G. Seven’ you aroused my curiosity. I knew that somewhere I had seen your picture, that your name should be on the tip of my tongue. I’d have learned your identity sooner but the paper was sponsoring an air circus and I had to handle the publicity. Then when I found your picture in the file in a story a little over a year ago I knew what you were after, but by that time you had left Atkinson.”
“How did you trace me here?”
“Found out where you had rented your car, and learned that you had made inquiries about this section of the state. Then when Sladek arrived in an amphibian and made similar inquiries I had a hunch something was going to break. After reaching Auburn it was easy to learn that the only man on the river who had been a sailor was Crazy John.”
“So you rented a boat and started downstream after the story and on the way Sladek’s outfit took a few shots at you?”
“That’s about the size of it. Now all I need to fill out the story is what you’re going to do.”
“I’m going after the treasure in the Southern Queen and I’m going to take you with me,” said Ford.
“You’re what?” asked Tim incredulously.
“I’m going to take you with me on the hunt for the treasure in the hold of the Southern Queen.”