“' Come,' said the captain impatiently, 'where is it?'
“'I cannot tell you.'
“The younger of the captains laughed savagely, and stepped up to him, pistol in hand.
“'I give you ten seconds to tell.'
“'Five will do, monsieur,' replied Robert, in French, 'and then you will be losing five seconds of your time. I shall not tell you. But I should like to say goodbye to my dead captain's children.'
“'The young Frenchmen's face purpled with fury. 'Very well then, you fool!' and he raised his pistol to murder the young man, when the older captain seized his arm.
“'Shame, Pellatier, shame! Would you kill such a brave man in cold blood? Let us be satisfied with getting such a good ship. Surely you would not shoot him for the sake of a few hundred dollars?'
“'There may be thousands. How can we tell?' replied Pellatier.
“Robert laughed, and then raised his hand in salute to the elder captain.
“'Captain Pellatier is right, sir. Madame Melville told me that there were thirteen hundred pounds in the bags which I have buried. And on certain conditions I will tell you where to find it.'