"Of course I've been trying to do all I could to protect my rights," said Dave. "I knew you were in hiding here."
"Ha! eh?" exclaimed Schmitt-Schmitt, pricking up his ears. "How did you know that?"
"Oh, we have kept track of you," answered Dave lightly. "As soon as we found you were back of the governor and the pilot in bothering us, we naturally watched you."
Schmitt-Schmitt stared in stupefaction at Dave.
"Knew it, did you?" he muttered.
"Of course we did. We knew what you were up to. Now I can tell you, Mr. Gerstein, you will never get that treasure away from the Windjammers' Island, no matter how hard you try."
"Treasure! The Windjammers' Island!" gasped the man. "How--when--where--the--the treasure was lost at sea."
"Not a bit of it, as you and I both know," asserted Dave blithely, reading in the confusion and excitement of the man a confirmation of his suspicions. "I say the Swallow, with or without me, sails in search of that treasure at daylight. Come, sir, you have gone in with a measly crowd who will only rob you in the end. Come to Captain Broadbeam, save us the trouble of a long search, and my father will pay you all right."
Schmitt-Schmitt got up and paced the floor. He seemed thinking over what Dave had suggested. His face, however, gradually resumed its customary ferocity and cunning.
"No," he said finally, striking the table with his fist and taking in his captive's helpless situation with a good deal of satisfaction. "I have the upper hand. I keep it."