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You bet I am! Think I want to hang around and palaver with a set of
pirates that d stick a gun in my face and tell me where I git off? Not
much! What s that Doc pulled on you?
A gun, said Trask. And my own. He had it all the time.
Well, I ll be jiggered! declared Jarrow, staring at the weapon
which Trask still held in his hand. He s a nice one!
A smooth article, said Trask. He fooled me, all right. If it hadn t
been for Tom He looked around, but Tom had disappeared
into the galley.
I m sure the steward would have shot you, said Marjorie, who
had regained her composure, and now stood beside Trask.
Looked like it was all off to me, said Locke. We ll have to square
things with that Chink.
What s this? asked Jarrow, looking at the pan and bowl, and the
sand on the deck. Been lookin for gold?
Tried some of it, said Trask.
Find any? asked Jarrow, with quick interest.
No, said Trask, and Locke appeared startled, but said nothing.
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Isle O Dreams
I better git into some dry duds, said Jarrow. As soon as there s a
capful of wind, we ll see what we can do about gittin out of this
hole, unless you want to go prospectin ashore, Mr. Trask.
Not with those fellows there, said Trask, looking over to where the
boat was making a landing far up the beach. The other two men
came down to meet the boat s crew, and there was a lively
conference.
But we can t go and leave poor old Dinshaw, said Marjorie.
Jarrow looked at Trask questioningly.
How about it? he asked. Are we goin to hang around and take
chances just to pick up the old un?
We can t leave Dinshaw, said Trask. We ve got to get him before
we think of leaving.
You can suit yerself, said Jarrow. I m for gittin out. They won t
hurt him. Soon s we re gone, they ll all make over for the
mainland. They ve got some canned meat and hard bread. They
took a lot of stuff with em last night.
Jarrow departed for his room, leaving a wet trail behind him.
He s all right, whispered Locke. If we can get Dinshaw, we re
fixed up to leave.
We ll keep an eye on the captain just the same, said Trask. I
rather think he s had all he wants of Peth and the crew, even if he
was going to stand in with them at one time.
Oh, I guess he s straight enough, said Locke. But you didn t tell
him about that gold.
He was keen about what you d found, said Marjorie. I suppose
he didn t understand what the steward said.
Trask laughed, and leaning over to Locke, whispered: There wasn t
any gold in the sand.
No gold? said Locke, staring at him.
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Isle O Dreams
No. The gold was just some brass filings I made in the forecastle
out of an old brass cleat that was hanging on a nail in my room for a
clothes hook, and he took from his pocket the piece of metal and
displayed the groove he had cut in it with the file.
What the dickens did you do that for? asked Locke.
To see if Doc would stand in with the crew, although I didn t
expect it would result in his pulling a gun on me. I thought that if he
was against us, he d try to get back ashore with the news. Now if
they think the island is full of gold, they ll be content to stay there
and not bother us. But I didn t want to fool Jarrow. He might not be
so anxious to leave, if he had what he thought to be proof that there
was plenty of gold.
Oh, I m sorry, said Marjorie. I d hoped that Dinshaw s dream
had come true.
Had me going all right, said Locke.
Before long Jarrow came out, in dry clothing, smacking his lips after
a drink, and lighted a long cigar.
Now, he began, how re we to git Looney Dinshaw back?
Go for him with the boat, said Trask.
You come along? suggested the captain.
I ll stick by the schooner, said Trask.
Then I ll take the cook.
Not unless the cook wants to go of his own accord, was Trask s
reply. I m not going to ask Tom to do anything.
Want me to go alone? asked the captain, in surprise.
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