et he'd been on. I tried the same
business and brought off the deal."

"It sounds wonderful and yet impossible," cried Braddock, rubbing his
bald head and walking excitedly to and fro. "See here, I'll come along
with you and see how it's done."

"You bet you won't, unless you shell out. See here"--Hervey leaned
forward--"from that window business it's plain that no one inside the
shanty corpsed your pal. The chap as did it entered and left by the
window, and made tracks with that old corp you want. Now you pass along
five hundred pounds--that's English currency, I reckon--and I'll smell
round for the robber."

"And where do you think I can obtain five hundred pounds?" asked the
Professor very dryly.

"Well, I guess if that blamed corpse is worth it, you'll be willing to
trade. Y'don't live in this shanty for nothing."

"My good friend, I have enough to live on, and obtain this house at a
small rent on account of its isolation. But I can no more find the sum
of five hundred pounds than fly."

Hervey rose and straightened his legs.

"Then I guess I'd best be getting back to Pierside."

"One moment, sir. Did anything happen on the voyage?--did Bolton say
anything likely to lead you to suppose that he was in danger of being
robbed and murdered?"

"No," said the skipper musingly, and pulling his goatee. "He told me
that he had secured the old corpse, and was bringing it home to you. I
didn't talk much to Bolton; he wasn't my style."

"Have you any idea who killed him?"

"No, I ain't."

"Then how do you propose to find the criminal who has the mummy?"

"You give me five hundred pounds and see," said Hervey coolly.

"I haven't got the money."

"Then I reckon you don't get the corpse. So long," and the skipper
strolled towards the door. Braddock followed him.

"You have a clue?"

"No, I've got nothing; not even that five hundred pounds you make such
a fuss over. It's a wasted day with H.H., I surmise. Wait!" He scribbled
on a card and flung it across the room. "That's my Pierside address if
you should change your blamed mind."

The Professor picked up the card. "The Sailor's Rest! What, are you
stopping there?" Then, when Hervey nodded, he cried violently, "Why, I
believe you have a clue, and stop at the hotel to follow it up."

"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," retorted the captain, opening the door
with a jerk; "anyhow, I don't hunt for that corpse without the dollars."

When Hiram Hervey departed, the