“But they’ll tell that Leroyd all about the treasure and just where to find it,” said Brandon.
“And you won’t know where to look for it aboard the Silver Swan,” Mr. Pepper chimed in.
“I won’t hey?” responded Caleb with a snort of disgust. “Sure of that, be ye?”
“I think I know where father would place the gems for safe keeping,” said Brandon, slowly.
“Yes, an’ I reckon I know, too,” the mate declared. “There’s a sliding panel in the cabin—eh, lad?”
Brandon nodded acquiescence.
“Yes, that’s it,” went on the sailor; “it come to me just now when I was a-thinkin’ of the matter. We useter keep our private papers in that ’ere hole in the bulkhead. It’s the third panel on the port side front the companionway.”
“Sh!” exclaimed the merchant, “suppose somebody should overhear you.”
“Oh, that sneak Weeks isn’t here,” replied Caleb carelessly. “You don’t have anybody else working for you here who would snoop like him, do you, ’Doniram?”
The merchant shook his head with a mild smile.