morning."

"Go on chiacking," said Garstang; "poke borak--it don't hurt _me_. But
if you want to do anything in a workmanlike and perfessional manner,
listen to advice. Isn't shipments of virgin gold made from the Coast?
Isn't such shipments made public by the newspapers? Very good. When we
see a steamer has brought up a pile of gold, where's it put but in the
bank? There's our chance. D'you follow? Then we'll be sure to get
something for our pains."

"'Ere, 'ere!" cried Sweet William, smacking the now leering Garstang on
the back. "Good on you. Maximum return for minimum risk."

Carnac joined in the laugh. "You're not so thick-headed after all," he
said to the crooked-faced man.

"Nor 'e ain't so awful white-livered neither," said William.

Dolphin, whose eyes were fixed on the table contemplatively, was silent
for a while. When the noise made by the other three had terminated, he
said, "Well, have it as you like. But how will the scheme fit in with
the steamer business?"

"First rate," answered William. "Where there's gold there'll be a
steamer to take it away, won't there?"

"And when the steamer doesn't get its gold at the appointed time,"
replied Dolphin, "the whole town will be roused to hunt for it. That's
no game for us. I agree to waiting for gold to be lodged in the bank,
but if that does't come off within reasonable time, I'm for taking the
chance that's offered. I'm willing to wait a fortnight. How'd that suit
you, Garstang?"

"I'm agreeable," said the sour-faced man.

"And in the meanwhile," added the leader, "we don't know one another. If
we meet, we don't so much as pass the time of day. D'you all
understand?"

The three answered affirmatively, and Sweet William said, "Don't never
any of you chaps come near my shanty. This meetin' stands adjourned
_sine die_."

"If there's a notice in the newspaper of gold arriving, that means we
meet here at once," said Dolphin, "otherwise we meet this day fortnight.
Is that clear?"

"Yes, that's clear," said Garstang.

"Certainly," said Carnac, "perfectly clear."

"An', please, when you go," said Sweet William, "don't raise the whole
neighbourhood, but make a git one by one, and disperse promiscuous, as
if you'd never met in your beautiful lives."

The four men were now standing round the table.

"Good night all," said Dolphin, and he went out quietly by the front
door.

"Remember what the boss says about the wine," remarked William, when
the lea