“That’s too attenuated; it’s altogether too thin,” declared Archie. “He is the ringleader in this business, and I know it. In regard to that strong box, you’re going to be disappointed when you see what’s in it. You’ll be as badly disappointed as the two fellows were whom I met in the Rocky Mountains a few months ago. They captured an emigrant family, and robbed their wagons, expecting to find a million dollars in them; but when they came to break open the box, which they supposed contained the treasure, they found in it nothing but a little brass model of a machine with which the emigrant intended to run his quartz mill. The million dollars were yet to be made. There’s money in the safe, no doubt; but not enough to pay you for the risk you are running, or to make you rich in America or anywhere else. The most of it is in bills of credit, and they will be of about as much use to you as so much paper. No one but Walter can get them cashed.”
It made Frank very uneasy to hear his cousin talk to the ruffian in this way, for he fully expected that Waters would become angry, and do him some injury; but the giant took it all in good part, and laughed heartily at the “little man’s” impudence. Fowler scowled and looked as black as a thundercloud, but Archie did not seem to notice it.
“I wonder if our captain has woke up yet?” said Waters, glancing toward the door of Frank’s stateroom.
“It looks that way in here; how does it look to you out there?” said Frank, repeating the words which the man with the revolver had used in reply to one of his questions. “What’s the use of keeping me in here? Hadn’t you better open the door, and let me out?”
“Yes, Bob’ll let you out,” said Waters.
The man at the table put his revolver into one pocket, drew a key from another, and unlocked the door. Frank stepped out into the cabin, and was greeted with—
“Well, captain, you didn’t think to see us again so soon, did you?”
“No, I didn’t. I was in hopes I had seen the last of you,” was the honest reply.
“Oh, I am not such a bad fellow as you may think,” said Waters, with a laugh. “I’m as peaceable as a lamb when I ain’t riled; and you and your mate here will fare well enough so long as you do as you are told, and don’t try any tricks on us. That’s something we won’t stand from nobody. We’re working for our liberty, and we’re bound to have it. We’ve got the schooner now, and we brought you aboard because you are a sailor, and we want you to take us to America.”
“I know what your plans are,” said Frank.