‘I am afraid that will be out of the question,’ said Edgar. ‘Yacka will not guide us there again, and I am sure we could not find the place.’
‘Yacka must be forced to act as guide,’ said Hepburn. ‘Such a treasure as you have discovered cannot be allowed to remain buried.’
‘I shall not be the one to use force against Yacka,’ said Edgar. ‘The black has acted honestly by us, and we must do the same by him.’
‘If you fellows do not have another try to find the place I shall,’ said Hepburn.
Edgar laughed as he said:
‘You are welcome to do so. For my part I have had enough of it, and am glad to have got back again with a whole skin.’
‘You must be careful not to let anyone know about here what you have with you. There are some desperate characters, and a mere hint as to the wealth you have, and your lives would not be safe,’ said Hepburn.
‘We have told no one but yourself,’ said Edgar; ‘and we know we can trust you. You are an old Redbank boy.’
After some persuasion Walter Hepburn agreed to accept a couple of fine rubies and a heavy nugget in return for the keep of the horses, and as a remembrance of their visit. As well as he was able Edgar described the country they had traversed and the appearance of the place where the caves were.
‘Even if you reach there safely,’ said Edgar, ‘you will not be able to find the entrance. We could see nothing of it, and even Yacka lost the run of it once.’