"If you have got any money, say so, and tell us how much you have," said Jack Dumper. "What's the use of being so secret? It don't do any good."
"Do you suppose I am going to have any one of you fellows that gets mad, running back to old Gildrock, and telling him what I have got in my trousers-pocket, where we are going, and what we are going to do? Not if I know myself. And Tom Topover thinks he knows himself better than any other fellow knows him. That's the whole of it. I won't trust you any farther than I have said; and you can all go back if you like, and I will carry out the plan myself, without any help from any of you. I can get along well enough alone, and I know where to go and what to do."
This independence was too much for the rest of them; and, though Bent growled, he submitted. They were all sure by this time that the chief had plenty of money, and they wondered with all their might where he had obtained it. There was no report of any theft about Beech Hill, and most of the boys never left the grounds except in the boats.
"I don't like this way of doing it, but I hate to back out," said Bent, when Tom had delivered himself, in full, of his opinions and intentions. "The fairest thing would be to tell what you are going to do, Tom; and then the fellows can't find any fault if things go wrong."
"The fellows may find fault if they like: what do I care for that? If I find the money and the brains for the scrape, I ought to have the management of the thing."
"Nobody objects to your managing it," said Jack Dumper. "But we should like to know what you are going to do."
"You won't know from me," replied Tom doggedly. "If any fellow wants to back out, now is the time for him to make tracks."
Kidd and Pell were tempted to accept the invitation.
"I don't want any little lambs with me," added Tom; and this remark upset the two penitents, and they had not the pluck to retire from the enterprise.
Tom Topover continued to talk for some time longer in a low tone, so that no one who happened to be out could hear him. He was waiting for the timid ones to withdraw, but no one did so. The good time promised influenced Bent and Jack, while the fear of ridicule upset the good intentions of Kidd and Pell. It was evident enough that Tom intended to take one of the boats; and it must be one of the sailboats, for all the barges and rowboats were locked up in the boat-house.