`All right, George, old man,' I says; `don't you worry. Did I tell the
skipper anything about the way you used to talk to us about the
treasure--and, by the livin' Jingo,' I says, `that's what you're after
now, ain't it, mate?'

"`Supposin' we was,' says he, `would you take a hand in the game? You
didn't seem noways eager about it when 'twas last mentioned.'

"`What was the use?' says I. `None of the others 'd have nothin' to do
with it, and we couldn't manage the thing by our two selves. But if
that's your game,' says I, `I'm in with you--if it's share and share
alike; not otherwise,' I says.

"`Well, it amounts pretty much to that,' George says, `only I'm to have
two shares instead of one, seein' that I was the man that found out all
about it. That's the arrangement, ain't it, Bill?'

"`That's the arrangement,' says Bill, `and a fair one it is, too, _I_
think. What's _your_ opinion, Joe?'

"`Yes,' I says, reluctant like, `I s'pose it's fair. But how will it
work out? will there be enough to make it worth the risk?'

"`Oh yes,' says George. `I don't know how much there is of it, but
there's sure to be a goodish pile, or the skipper wouldn't take the
trouble to come all this way to get it.'

"`Well, but,' I says, `how's the thing goin' to be worked? I hope there
ain't goin' to be no murder!'

"`Murder be hanged!' says Bill. `What should there be any murder for?
No; the whole thing's very simple. We're all goin' to be perfectly
quiet and do exactly as we're told until the treasure's found and put
aboard the ship; and then, when the order's give to up anchor and make
sail from the island, we're just goin' to seize the skipper, the mate,
and the passengers, unawares; clap the mate in irons; put the rest
ashore; and off we goes.'

"`Well,' I says, `and afterwards?'

"`Afterwards,' says Bill, `we shall divide the treasure fairly amongst
us; make the mate navigate the ship to some place where she can be
comfortably cast away; and we poor shipwrecked mariners will land, with
our swag snugly stowed away amongst our dunnage, and every man will then
look after hisself.'

"`Well,' I says, `that seems to be all plain sailin' enough.' It wasn't
my business to point out to 'em that they'd prob'ly find Mr Forbes a
hard nut to crack, you see, sir; so I makes out to be quite satisfied
with their plans, and to be quite ready to join in with 'em; and then I
was took into the fo'c's'le and introjuced to the rest as