ters."

"You told no one?"

Mark laughed. "The pearls were--my own concern. You're the first I've
told." He watched his brother. Joel frowned thoughtfully, shook his head.

"You plan to go back for them?" he asked.

"You and I," said Mark casually. Joel looked at him in quick surprise;
and Mark laughed. "Yes," he repeated. "You and I. I am not selfish, Joel.
Besides--there are plenty for two."

Joel, for an instant, found no word; and Mark leaned quickly toward him.
He tapped Joel's knee. "We'll work up that way," he said quietly. "When
we come to the island, you and I go ashore, and get them where they're
hid beneath the rock; and we come back aboard with no one any wiser....
Rich. A double handful of them, Joel...."

Joel's eyes were clouded with thought; he shook his head slowly. "What of
the blacks?" he asked.

Mark laughed. "They were brought down on us by the woman who got away,"
he said. "Quint's woman. I heard as much that day, saw her among them.
But--they're gone before this."

Joel said slowly: "You are not sure of that. And--I cannot risk the
ship...."

Mark asked sneeringly: "Are you afraid?"

The younger man flushed; but he said steadily: "Yes. Afraid of losing Asa
Worthen's ship for him."

Mark chuckled unpleasantly. "I'm minded of what is written, here and
there, in the 'Log of the House of Shore,'" he said, half to himself. And
he quoted: "'All the brothers were valiant....' There's more to that,
Joel. 'And all the sisters virtuous.' I had not known we had sisters--but
it seems you're one, boy. Not valiant, by your own admission; but at
least you're fairly virtuous."

Joel paid no heed to the taunt. "Asa Worthen likes care taken of his
ship," he said, half to himself. "I'm thinking he would not think well of
this.... He's not a man to gamble...."

"Gamble?" Mark echoed scornfully. "He has no gamble in this. The pearls
are for you and me. He will know nothing whatever about them. A handful
for me, and a handful for you, Joel. For the taking...."

"You did not think to give him owner's lay?" Joel asked.

"No."

"Where is this island?"

Mark laughed. "I'll not be too precise--until I have your word, Joel.
But--'tis to the northward."

"Our course is west, then south."

"Since when has the _Nathan Ross_ kept schedule and time table like a
mail ship?"

Joel shook his head. "I cannot do it, Mark."

"Why not?"

"A risk I have no right to take; and wasted weeks, out of our course.