But Bry volunteered to try to secure some food, and as soon as darkness had fallen he crept toward the camp, managing to approach to within five yards of the camp fire, around which the robbers sat smoking and talking. He was concealed by a huge log, behind which he hid, listening carefully to the conversation, which he afterward retailed to me. “So far,” Larkin was saying, “we couldn’t have done better. By this time I guess we’re pretty safe from pursuit.” “No one could find their way here in a year,” boasted Daggett, his lean face grinning with delight. “I’m the only man on the island as knows the trails.” “Are you sure you can lead us to that queer rock you tell of?” asked Judson, a little uneasily. “Sure. And once there, we could defy an army,” returned Daggett. “Then we can make our raft, row out to where the ship is, and sail away home.” Larkin gave a rude laugh, ending it with an oath. “There’ll be some tall cussin’ in the camp,” he said. “Major’ll be crazy,” assented Daggett. “I swiped every grain o’ gold he had, while he lay a-snorin’,” chuckled Hayes, a big ruffian who was called “Dandy Pete,” in derision, because he was so rough and unkempt. “Pity we couldn’t ’a’ got all there was in camp.” “There’s enough to make us all rich, my boys, anyhow,” remarked Larkin. “It’s nearly broke my back, luggin’ of it, an’ there’s only four of us to divide.” At this they seemed to grow thoughtful, and all sat silently smoking for several minutes. “What bothers me,” said Judson, breaking the silence, “is how we’re to get that blasted ship into some civilized port. There ain’t a man here as knows anything about sailin’.” “That’s all right,” said Larkin, confidently. “The sun rises in the east, don’t it? Well, all we’ve got to do is h’ist the sails and let the wind blow us towards the east. Some time or other we’ll get to the American continent, and then we can run down the coast to ’Frisco. It’s no trouble to sail a ship.” “We’ve got to get away, somehow,” grumbled Judson, “or our gold won’t be of any use to us. When are we going to divide?” “When we get on the ship,” said Daggett, promptly. “When we’re at sea will be better,” added Larkin. They looked at one another suspiciously. “It’s got to be a fair divvy,” said Dandy Pete, with an oath, “or else there won’t be so many to divide up with.” “What do you mean by that?” demanded Larkin, angrily. “I mean I’ll stick a knife in your ribs, if you try any trickery with me,” replied Pete, scowling. “You made the terms yourself, and you’ve got to live up to ’em. It’s a quarter each, all around.” “That’s wrong!” yelled Daggett, springing to his feet. “I’m to have a third, for guiding you. If it hadn’t been for me, you couldn’t get away with the gold at all.” “Who promised you a third?” asked Hayes. “Larkin.” “Well, let Larkin make it up to you, out of his own share. I’m going to have a quarter.” “And so am I,” said Judson, fingering his revolver.