you mean to bring off the cargo you landed and you'll need a fresh gang
of native boys. Well, I can help."

"You imply you can bother us if we don't agree?" Brown remarked.

"Something like that! I can certainly make things awkward. However, all
I want is to go with you when you open the lazaret where the boxes of
gold were stored."

"Ah!" said Brown. "I expect you see what your wanting to go indicates?
Looks as if you knew something about the wreck."

"I imagine I do know something," Montgomery admitted quietly. "At the
beginning, I reckoned you would not float her, but in order to run no
risk, I meant to hinder you as much as possible. Now I'm beaten, I'm
going to be frank--"

He paused and resumed in a low voice: "When I was left control of a
respected business house I was young and ambitious. It was plain the
house had weathered a bad storm, but our fortunes were mending and I
thought they could be built up again. Well, I think I was honest, and
when one of _Arcturus'_ crew demanded money I got a jar. Since my father
loaded the ship, I expect you see where the fellow's threats led?"

"I see the line Cartwright might take," Brown remarked dryly. "If the
boxes don't hold gold, he could break you! We have found out enough
already to give him a strong pull on the boat's last owners. They're in
his power."

"He won't use his power. Cartwright is not that sort! Besides, the
company is bankrupt."

"You are not bankrupt. Do you know what sort Lister and I are?"

Montgomery smiled. "It's not important. If there is no gold in the
boxes, I don't want to carry on the house's business. You can do what
you like--"

He stopped for a few moments and Lister began to feel some sympathy. The
man was desperate and had obviously borne much.

"My staying at the factory was a strain," Montgomery continued. "I was
ill and when at length I saw you might succeed, the suspense was
horrible. You see, I risked the honor of the house, my marriage, my
fortune. All I had and cared about!"

"Were you to be married?" Lister asked.

Montgomery signed agreement. "The wedding was put off. While it looked
as if my mended fortune was built on fraud and I had known, and agreed
to, the trick, I could not marry a high-principled girl."

Brown knitted his brows and was quiet for some moments. Then he said,
"You are now willing to get us the boys we want and help us where you
can?"

"That is so," Montgomery agreed.

"Very well!" said Br