Up went Larry’s hands. Jeff, also, elevated his own.
“Now!” remarked the stranger, pulling the dory around without losing his advantage, “both turn your backs and clasp your hands behind you!”
“Wait!” said Larry, suddenly, earnestly. “I’ll give you the jewels without making any trouble—if you’ll let me put my hand in my pocket I’ll throw the emeralds down to you.”
The man stared, amazed, either incredulous or not quite understanding.
Larry had no emeralds and was well aware of it. Jeff still made his pockets bulge with the packed chunks of gum.
But Larry had seen a chance that they might turn to their own advantage if once the man’s eyes could be diverted from Jeff. Just before he had clambered onto the forward bracing to spin the amphibian’s propeller, Jeff had laid down the sturdy wrench he had used for bending the pipes; evidently he meant to transfer it to his own tool kit but had wished to start the amphibian’s engine first.
The wrench, within his reach, could be used as a weapon. Larry had caught Jeff’s flash of the eyes toward it as his hands had been elevated. From Jeff’s expression Larry saw, out of the corner of his eye, that the older pilot caught the younger comrade’s purpose.
“All right,” the man had recovered his surprised wits and was closely watching Larry. “Which pocket?”
“This one!” Larry, carefully keeping fingers spread wide, tapped one side of his coat.
“Throw the package or whatever it is——”