The chums saw what was coming; their arms were folded again and they were waiting, trembling a little with excitement. What decision must they make? What decision could they make? Was there any way out? They could see none!

“Put it up to ’em!” urged Tew. “Will you ‘throw in’ with us, taking a small share, or will we put them in the hold till we get what they know—we have ways!” he added with a meaning glare, “and when we get the treasure we’ll—well, whatever you decide, Cap’n—I know you can think up some pretty interesting ways to get rid of folks we don’t need——”

Nicky made a gesture; his right hand rubbed his nose, from his eye to his lips, as if removing a smudge; Cliff and Tom answered his sign, “Shall we say ‘yes’?” by nodding.

“What’s your say?” demanded Ortiga. “Tell all or——”

Nicky stood up.

“Share-and-share-alike!” he demanded with a defiant effort that seemed to please Tew. Don Ortiga nodded, “Share-and-share!”

“Deal out our cutlasses an’ bandanas,” said Nicky with affected ferocity. “We’re with you till the last man walks the plank!”

CHAPTER XIV
THE CHASE

Although Nicky had put a brave face on a bad situation, all three chums realized how grave was their danger. Their word had been accepted without question and they were given the freedom of the ship, after its crew had been summoned to the cabin and a vote taken. Only one member, the engineer, put in a word of dissent to Don Ortiga’s suggestion that they start at once for the archipelago.

“There’s that revenue cutter,” he reminded his mates.

“Her!” said Tew, sneeringly. “Ain’t we got plenty of ways to show her our heels?”

Nicky and his fellows wondered what these ways might be. They were to discover at least one of them.

They were given a plentiful meal in the cabin; the hi-jackers fared well, evidently, for the meal comprised fresh eggs, four apiece, fresh milk, since none of them cared much for coffee, white bread, corn pone as a second choice, and rice pudding.

The cook was an affable, smiling colored man from Miami, the flourishing tourist resort in Florida, who found his share of illicit gain more alluring than the wages of an honest chef in a hotel.

Besides the 

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