Hank went out and returned with the other. Candon had taken off his coat and his shirt sleeves were rolled up and his hands showed the engine-room business he had been put on.

“Come right in,” said Hank. “We’ve concluded to take you along, but there’s conditions.”

“Spit them out,” said Candon.

“Well, first of all I haven’t five thousand dollars to be taking down the coast with me, but I’ll put a thousand in your fist when the job’s done and mail you the other four to any address you like.”

“Oh, I’ll trust you for that,” said Candon. “What else?”

“Second, if we find the Dutchman’s property, it will have to go back to the owners.”

“That’s just what I’d like best,” said Candon. “I tell you straight it would have been a condition68 with me, only I took it for granted seeing you’re out, so to speak, in the name of the law. I’m no pirate. I’m not saying I was always of the same way of thinking, but I reckon those ballyhooleys I’ve just left have given me a shake.”

68

“Well then,” said Hank, “there’s only one more condition. You’ll help to work the ship for your bunk and board without pay.”

“Right,” said Candon, “and now, if you’ll take that styleographic pen I see sticking out of your vest pocket and give’s a bit of paper, we’ll draw the contract.”

Hank produced the pen and an old bill on the back of which the “contract” was made out, under the terms of which Candon was to receive five thousand dollars and a set ashore after the Dutchman had been brought safe aboard the Wear Jack, also he was to take the expedition to the spot where, to the best of his belief, was cached the Dutchman’s plunder.

This done, Candon went back to his engine cleaning, having produced and handed over to Hank four ten dollar notes.

“I’ll want a toothbrush and a couple of shirts and a couple of suits of pyjamas,” said he. “Maybe, as I can’t get ashore, you’ll get them for me. All my truck’s on board the Heart.”

“Bud,” said Hank to his partner that night, “I hope to the Lord we ain’t stung. Suppose69 the chap’s some practical joker put on us by Barrett, or the boys at the Club.”

69

“Nonsense,” said George. “Where’d be 

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