Young Hunters in Porto Rico/Chapter 27
CHAPTER XXVII.
JOSEPH FARVEL MAKES A MOVE.
Breakfast was about over, and Danny was beginning to wash the few dishes they had used, when suddenly Bob leaped to his feet.
"Joseph Farvel, as sure as fate!"
"Where?" demanded Robert Menden.
"Coming through the brush back of us. See! There he is!"
The youth was right; Farvel was making straight for the shack, followed by his two negro companions. He looked dirty and tired out, and his clothing was in tatters.
When he beheld them he stared in amazement; then halted, and drew his pistol.
"Stop, Farvel; we want no shooting here," cried Robert Menden, sternly. "Put your firearm back in your pocket."
"It's a fine game you played on me," growled Farvel, as he concealed his pistol and came closer. "Thought you were mighty clever, didn't you?"
"I don't understand you?"
"Don't you? See here; you can't play any such game on me, even if we are alone among these mountains."
"What are you driving at, Farvel?" asked Dick, coming forward.
"Your crowd stole my traps—I see some of them in the hut. I want them back." And the fellow shook his head decidedly.
"You can have your traps and welcome," said Menden. "But we did not steal them. If they were stolen, the job was done by a Carib named Bumbum."
"It's a likely story!" was the reply, with a sneer. "Who is this Bumbum? I never heard of him?"
"The man who waylaid you on the road and robbed you."
"How do you know that?"
"Here is the wallet he took from you."
The article was passed over to Joseph Farvel, who accepted it with a cold stare. However, he opened it quickly to see if the contents were intact, and then smiled to himself.
"I don't understand your game at all," he muttered.
"It is no game, Farvel," said Robert Menden.
"How did you get the wallet?"
"Our things were stolen and, aided by our dog, we traced them here, where we found your goods mixed up with our own. While we were sorting out the stuff we saw this Bumbum approaching. We hid in the bushes, and saw by the way he acted that he had robbed both of us and was going to tote his booty off. We collared him, and on searching him got ten dollars belonging to two of these boys, and your wallet. That proves that he was the man who waylaid you; otherwise, how would he have your wallet?"
"It's an odd tale, Robert Menden," came sullenly.
"And a true one, whether you believe it or not."
"Of course I'll have to believe it. But I want to talk to you about another matter."
"All right. But hurry, as we don't intend to spend all of our time here."
"You are hot-footed after that treasure, I see."
"We have a right to be."
"Didn't you see the notice I posted near the entrance to the cave?"
"That notice isn't worth the paper it is written on, Farvel. You might better have saved your writing material."
At this Joseph Farvel bit his lip. "Don't be so sure of that, Menden."
"We won't argue the point. I have given you your wallet—for which I've got no thanks—and there are your other goods. You had better take them and yourself off."
"I'll go when I please."
"Then we'll go, and you can live in the hut and welcome," put in Dick. "Come, Danny, make up your bundle, and I'll help you carry it."
"Have you found anything of the treasure yet?" asked Farvel, curiously, as he turned to Bob.
"That is none of your business."
"I'll make it my business. The treasure is mine, and nobody shall rob me of it," was the fierce response.
"That treasure will belong to the party that finds it, Farvel," replied Robert Menden. "Don't deceive yourself by thinking otherwise."
"I know what I'm talking about. But, see here—" Farvel shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. "What do you say to our doubling up and dividing the treasure when we locate it?"
At this proposition all were greatly surprised. Then they looked at Farvel's appearance, and quickly came to the conclusion that the fellow was growing discouraged.
"We do not need your assistance, Farvel," said, Menden. "We'll do as we've been doing—go it alone."
"You won't form a partnership?"
"No."
"I think I can locate that treasure in another day."
"Then go and do it."
"I—I've located the flat stone already."
"What!" came in a chorus, and all of the Dashaway's party were much dismayed.
"Yes, and I'll have the treasure box, and unless you agree to assist me you won't get a penny."
"When did you locate the tablet?" queried old Jacob.
"Yesterday afternoon. I would have opened it only"
"Only what?"
"I didn't have the tools, and it was cemented right in the wall of the cave."
"Indeed!" The old tar put up his hand to shut off the others from talking. "Farvel, I think yer a natural born story-teller. You ain't seed so much as a corner o' thet stone. It's a put-up job to make us take ye into partnership—but it won't work nohow."
"Jacob Ropes is right," said Robert Menden. "You haven't seen the tablet."
"It ain't in no wall!" burst out Danny, ere he had stopped to think twice. "It's—" He stopped in dismay.
"Ha! so you have located it!" cried Joseph Farvel.
"It ain't in no wall, fer de papers don't read dat way," went on Danny, bound to smooth matters over. "It's behind a monument wid lions' heads and carved snakes, and such t'ings around it."
"A monument with lions' heads?" queried Farvel, in bewilderment. "All right—if you know best." He paused. "Then you won't form any partnership?"
"No," said Robert Menden; and all of the others agreed with him.
Without another word, Joseph Farvel ordered his helpers to gather his things together. He was on the point of appropriating one of old Jacob's ropes when the sailor stopped him.
"Take yer own, an' no more," he said, sternly; and Farvel dropped the coil. In a minute more he and his party made off and soon disappeared over the mountain top.
"That was a bad break, Danny," said Dick, when Farvel was out of hearing.
"So it was," murmured the Irish lad. "But I guess I t'rew him off de track wid dem lions' heads an' snakes, don't you?"
"Perhaps so; but be more careful in the future."
"I think the best thing we can do is to hide our traps, after this," observed Leander. "Who knows but what Bumbum or Farvel may be after them."
"That Carib may be watching us even now," said Don. "Let us search the bushes and see."
This was done, but nobody was brought to light. Then the outfit was hidden in a dense hollow, under some vines, and off they started for the Dark Cave once more, carrying all their ropes, as well as a stout canvas bag, with them.