"You cowardly—cur!" uttered Tom Halstead, in cool disdain.
Cragthorpe started; then deeper lines of passion graved themselves in his features.
"Yes," continued Tom, scornfully, "you're about the lowest sort of cur that could possibly breathe. To charge a woman such a price for her brother's life and good fame!"
Cragthorpe suddenly restrained his growing anger. He leered down into the face of his straightforward young enemy.
"However, I am to make money in another way," he continued, cheerfully. "Frank Rollings is my cousin. After my failure with the girl he found me so desperate and ugly that, without telling me what he was about to do, he enlisted me in his present fine enterprise."
"Took you along with him to help him guard his stolen treasure, did he!" jeered Captain Tom Halstead.
"Yes, if it interests you," snarled Cragthorpe.
"It'll interest your precious cousin a lot more, before he gets through with you," sneered Halstead. "He'll be lucky if you don't make away with him and try to secure all the stolen money for yourself!"
Cragthorpe started, almost as though the young skipper had hit on the head the nail of his intentions.