APTER IX

MR. SEATON UNBURDENS HIMSELF

"Really, I see no reason why I shouldn't tell you," went on the
charter-man of the "Restless." "When I first engaged you youngsters
and your boat for this month I had little more in mind than using your
boat for pleasure cruising about here. Yet the fact that you had a
wireless equipment aboard the 'Restless' _did_ influence me not a
little, for I had at least a suspicion that big affairs might come to
pass, and that telegraphing from ship to ship might be wonderfully
convenient.

"At the same time, I was careful to look up the references that you
gave me, Captain Halstead. Those references were so wholly
satisfactory that I know I can trust you to serve me as bravely and
loyally as you have, in the past, been called upon to serve others.
And now, just for the reason that you may be called upon to take some
big fighting chances for me, I'm going to tell you what lies back of
the curtain of mystery that you've been staring at."

As his voice died out Powell Seaton arose, locked the door and glanced
out through the windows. Then he returned to the table, motioning to
the boys to incline their heads close to his.

"Probably," began their host, "you've regarded me as a wealthy man,
and, until the last two or three days, as one of leisure. I am
reasonably well-to-do in this world's goods, but most of my life,
since I was twenty, has been passed in storm and stress.

"It is not necessary to tell you all about the life that I have led.
It will be enough to tell you that, three years ago, not satisfied
that my fortune was large enough, I went to Brazil in order to learn
what chance there might be of picking up money fast in that country.

"In Brazil there are many ways of making a fortune, though perhaps not
as many as right here at home. However, there are fewer
fortune-seekers there. In coffee, rubber and in many other staples
fortunes may be made in Brazil, but the biggest, wildest, most
desperate and scrambling gamble of all is found in the diamond-digging
fields.

"Most of the diamond fields have, perhaps, been discovered, and their
working has become systematized to a regular, dividend-paying basis.
There are still, however, some fields not yet located. It was a small
field, but one which I believe may be worth millions, that I located
somewhat more than a year ago. See here!"

From an inner pocket Powell Seaton drew forth an ordinary wallet.
Opening it, he dropped out