Someone was walking along the path among the bushes bordering the back of the clearing. Although they could hear no sound, they could mark the passing of a body by the swish of the foliage. Val lay, face down, on the platform and reached for a stick of wood lying on the ground below. Somehow he did not like to think of being caught empty-handed when the excitement began. "Hello." It was Red, suddenly genial. The Ralestones could almost feel the radiance of the smile which must have split his face. "Whatta yo' doin' heah?" That was Jeems, and his demand was sharply hostile. "Now, bub, don't get us wrong." That was Red, still genial. "I know my pal sorta flew off his base this mornin'. But it was all in fun, see? So we kinda wanted yuh to stick around till he came and not do the run-out on us. And now the Boss has come down here so we can talk business all friendly like." "Shut up, Red!" Having so bottled his companion's flow of words, the other spoke directly to Jeems. "My men made a mistake. All right. That's over and done with; they'll get theirs. Now let's get down to business. What do you know about that big plantation up river, the one called 'Pirate's Haven'?" "Nothin'." Jeems' answer was clear. The hostility was gone from his voice; nothing remained but an even tonelessness. "Come now, I know you have reason to be hot. But this is business. I'll make it worth your while--" "Nothin'," answered Jeems as concisely as before. "You can't expect us to believe that. I followed you one night." "Yo' did?" The challenge was unmistakable. "I did. So you see I know something of you. Something which even the present owner does not. Say the ghost in the hall, for example." There was the sound of a deeply drawn breath. "So you see it is to your advantage to listen to us," continued the Boss smoothly. "What do you want?" Val knew disappointment at that question. Would Jeems surrender as easily as that? "Just an explanation of how you get into the house unseen." "Yo'll nevah know!" The swamper's reply came swift and clear. "No? Well, I'd think twice before I held to that answer if I were you," purred the other softly. "A word to the Ralestones about those nightly walks of yours--" "Won't give yo' what yo' want," replied Jeems shrewdly. "I see. Perhaps I have been using the wrong approach," observed the Boss composedly. "You work for a living, don't you?" "Yes." "Then you know the value of money. What is your price? Come on, we won't haggle." The Boss' impatience colored his tone. "How much do you want for this information?" "Nothin'!" "Nothing?" "Ah ain't said nothin' an' Ah ain't a-goin' to say nothin'. An' yo' bettah be a-gittin' offen this heah land of mine afo'--" "Before what, swamper?" Red was taking a hand in the game. "Yo' can't fright'n me with that gun," came calmly enough from Jeems. "Yo' ain't a-goin' to risk shootin'--"