"But that's a matter that can wait," he continued. "In any event it won't affect our plans. Either I'll fix the matter up with him satisfactorily in a money way, or, if you think best, we'll let him into the secret and take him along." "Would that be safe?" inquired Tyke dubiously. "Absolutely," affirmed the captain. "He's a man of honor, and if he promised to keep our secret, wild horses couldn't drag it from him. I'd trust him as I would myself. Maybe he'd like to come along with us. He's too rich to care anything about the doubloons, but he's romantic, and he might like the fun of hunting for it." "Well," said Tyke, "we'll have to leave that matter to you to settle as you think best. Any one you vouch for will be good enough for me." "And now," said Captain Hamilton, "there's one thing more that we haven't touched on yet. I suppose we understand, Tyke, that you and I put up the expenses of this expedition, fifty-fifty?" "Sure thing," agreed Tyke. "And if nothing comes of it, we simply charge it up to profit and loss----' "An' let it go at that," finished Tyke. "We'll have had a run for our money, anyhow." "On the other hand," the captain continued, "if we find the treasure, and it proves to be of any size, we'll first deduct the cost of the trip, lay aside enough for Parmalee to make things right with him--he may not want it, but we'll make him take it--and then divide what's left into three equal shares?" "Three!" Drew uttered the ejaculation, and the blood drummed in his temples. "That's right," assented Tyke placidly. "One for you, one for me, and the third for Allen." CHAPTER X CAPRICIOUS FORTUNE Drew experienced a thrill of delight. But he felt that he ought to protest. "I'm not putting up anything toward the expense," he said. "If things go wrong, you'll lose heavily. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It doesn't seem the square thing." "Let us do the worrying about that," smiled the captain. "You've done your fair share already toward this adventure. We'll all share and share alike." "You bet we will," chimed in Tyke. "There wouldn't be any cruise at all if it hadn't been for you. Who suggested searching the box? Who translated the paper and the map? You've been the head and front of the whole thing from the beginning." "But----" began Drew. "'But,' nothing," interrupted Tyke. "Not another word. Remember I'm your boss." And Drew, glad enough for once in his life to be bossed, became silent. But the walls of his air castle began to grow more solid. "How long will it be before you can have the schooner ready to sail?" Tyke inquired, turning to the captain. "Oh, in a week or ten days if we are pressed," was the response. "It won't take us more than that to get our supplies aboard and ship our crew."