"I don't know why I should bother with you," he said. "I know you are mutineers and should be dealt with severely, but I am not an executioner. Pay me my two pounds four," he continued, turning to one of the men, "and we shall leave the ship. It's not my ship and neither is it yours; but you can have it as far as I am concerned."
"Yes," said Frank. "We don't need it any longer."
One of the Italians ran hurriedly below. Returning he placed two bags of gold in Jack's hand.
"Take this, _signor_," he exclaimed. "We will have no luck unless we give you this gold."
"No," replied Jack, "all I want is what is due me."
"Yes, yes; you must take it, _signor_," cried all the Italians.
Jack thrust his hand into one of the canvas bags and brought out a handful of coins, from which he selected two. The others he returned to the bag, adding to them a couple of coins from his own pocket.
He threw the bags down on deck and dropped himself into the small boat now lying alongside. The other two followed him.
But he had hardly taken his seat when two heavy thumps on the floor of the boat, followed by a jingling impact, announced the arrival of the two bags of gold.
"You must take the gold, _signor_. You must take it, else we shall have no luck."
Jack stood up in the boat. Frank and Hetherington pulled on the oars.
"Pull," Jack commanded, and the boat started away.
Aiming skillfully at the open gangway, Jack sent the heavy bags, one after the other, skimming along the deck.
One of the Italians grabbed them up and rushed to the gangway. But he was too late. The boat was twenty yards away, and leaping forward beneath the strokes of Frank and Hetherington.
Upon landing the three made their way at once to Jack's small home, a rudely constructed native hut.
"Sorry I haven't a better place to offer you," said Jack, "but I guess you can put up with it for one day."
"No apology is needed," said Hetherington. "This is plenty good enough for me."
"Well, just make yourselves at home, then," said Jack. "I'll see if I can't scare up something to eat."
Their appetites appeased, Frank bethought himself of Hetherington's promise to tell him his story, and reminded him of it.
Hetherington hesitated a moment, and then said: