"You knew those men in life," said I. "If the others are of the same pattern as the Portuguese, by all means let them lie frozen."
"But, my friend," said he, calling me mon ami, which I translate, "that's not it, either. Do you know the value of the booty in this schooner?"
I answered, No; how was I to know it? I had met with nothing but wearing apparel, and some pieces of money, and a few watches in the forecastle. He knit his brows with a fierce suspicious gleam in his eyes.
"But you have searched the vessel?" he cried.
"I have searched, as you call it—that is, I have crawled through the hold as far as the powder-room."
"And further aft?"
"No, not further aft."
His countenance cleared.
"You scared me!" said he, fetching a deep breath. "I was afraid that some one had been beforehand with us. But it is not conceivable. No! we shall look for it presently, and we shall find it."
"Find what, Mr. Tassard?" said I.