“Well, have you decided to come to my terms?”
“We have talked the matter all over,” said Wade, shrewdly; “and we have decided to accept your story as the truth, though you will pardon me if I say that this was not the case when we first heard you tell it.”
“Oh!” he ejaculated. “Then you didn’t believe me?”
“Of course, you will understand,” said Wade, diplomatically, “that such a story from the lips of a stranger looked a bit large. We must be excused for a bit of incredulity.”
“It looks more plausible,” admitted Wade. “We are prepared to accept it as true.”
“I am glad you have come to your senses,” growled the villain. “I haven’t any hard feelings against you, though it was pretty hard usage you gave me on board my own vessel.”
“We acted, as we believed, in self-defense.”
“Well, I reckon so. However, we’ll let by-gones be by-gones. In regard to this offer of mine—do you accept it? One-fifth of the gold shall be yours for the recovery of it.”
“Do you reckon that a fair share?” asked Wade, diplomatically.
“Why is it not?” he cried. “I am sure that you could get no better terms from any one. It will make you all rich enough.”
“I think we ought to have half,” he said.
“Well, you will never get half!” he cried, “nor nobody else.” Then, after a moment’s thought: “Well, I’ll do a little better. I’ll give you one-fourth.”
Wade took a notebook from his pocket and wrote down all in serious fashion.
“Now,” he said, “for other terms. You are to show us the place, and we are to dive for the gold.”
“Yes, yes!” he said, briskly, “but there is a stipulation.”
“You must allow me and two of my men to go down with you while the gold is being taken up!”
“I am making a report to present to Mr. Reade. I will give him these terms and return with an answer as quickly as possible. Have no apprehension. He will be quite likely to accept the terms.”
“I thought you came prepared to accept them?” he said.
“No, sir!” replied Wade, decisively. “Mr. Reade is the master of the submarine boat.”
“Tell him to come himself next time. I don’t feel like being trifled with. Be quick as you can about the answer.”
“I will report at once!” replied Wade, with a manner which belied his words. “Have another cigar.”
“Excuse me, but I am nervous over this situation. Bring me an answer as quick as you can.”
