“You were richer than you thought,” said the captain, in a sarcastic tone.
“It is all I had. I am ruined!” exclaimed Johann piteously. “Good robber, give me back half.”
“Not one penny!” returned the chief emphatically. “You tried to defraud me, and you merit no consideration at my hands. You were not like these gentlemen,” and he nodded approvingly in the direction of Gates and Tom.
Herr Schmidt wrung his hands and protested that he was ruined, and that his Katrine and children would all starve.
“Let them cook you, then,” said the captain. “That will keep them alive for a month.”
But even this suggestion did not mitigate the grief of the unhappy Teuton, who sunk down on a stump near by and bewailed his fate.
Morton was reserved to the last. He was wise enough to give up all his gold, though he had considerably more than either of his companions. But he also was compelled to submit to a search. No money was found, but the belt was discovered.
“Papers—no money, I assure you,” hurriedly answered Morton.
“If they are papers, we must see them,” said the captain.
“They would be of no value to you,” said Morton quickly. “They are business papers.”
“I must see them,” said the captain suspiciously.
Tom had pricked up his ears when he first heard the papers mentioned. His heart beat quick. Were these the securities of which he was in search? He believed so, and waited anxiously to ascertain. Yet, even if they should prove to be so, how would he be the better off?
He bent his eyes eagerly upon the robber-captain as he opened the belt and revealed the contents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
“HA! WHAT have we here?” said the robber chief, as he drew out first a certificate of stock in a New York bank.
“It is the property of a friend,” he said hurriedly.
“And that friend’s name is Armstrong—is it not so?”
When Tom heard the name Armstrong, all his doubts were removed. There was no longer a doubt that he had found the absconding clerk. But that was not his only object. He desired also to regain possession of the stolen securities, and they were in the hands of a powerful robber-chief, of whom he was himself the prisoner. Still he was not without hope.