"You are not altogether right, Mr. Jarman," said the negro, quietly. "Only Mr. Denham would go. Berry was making money at the diggings, and preferred the bird in the hand to the two in the bush. But he came with us for a little way. Mr. Lancaster, knowing he was a good shot and a fearless man, wanted him greatly to come, and promised him a share. But he refused and turned back. We went on without him." "And you found the treasure?" "Yes. We had hard work, though. It was quite a year before we came across the rock marked with the Scarlet Bat. Also we had to fight our way through a hostile country, and several of our men died. At last we reached the rock and found the treasure. With the greatest difficulty we transported it to civilisation. I need not tell you all the hardships we underwent, or how we got the treasure safely landed. But we did. I had a share, and then Mr. Denham and Mr. Lancaster divided the rest between them." "So that's how my father made his money," muttered Natty. "He spent it on a large scale." "He did, sir," said the negro, gravely. "He spent all he had, with the exception of that portion he saved for you." "He didn't save much. Why didn't he leave me more?" Tamaroo nodded impressively. "He was afraid of Berry." Natty stared and looked angry. "My father was afraid of nothing." "He was afraid of Berry," insisted Tamaroo. "And Mr. Lancaster was also afraid." This time Frank protested. "I can't believe that." "It is true enough. You see, gentlemen, both Mr. Denham and Mr. Lancaster married when they got the money. You two gentlemen"--he looked at Frank and Natty--"were born on the same day." "That is strange," said Natty, and Frank laughed. "It pleased both my master and Mr. Denham, for they were such good friends. So that you should both be certain of inheriting the treasure, they had you both tattooed with the Scarlet Bat." "Oh! was that it," said Natty, thinking of his story of the Indians. "Mine is on the left arm. And yours, Lancaster?" "On the right. Go on, Tamaroo." "The reason of the tattooing," continued the negro, "was that my master and Mr. Denham thought that Berry would kidnap you both." "But what was Berry's game?" asked Natty. "To get the money. He had bad luck at the diggings, and when he returned to San Francisco he found that the treasure had been discovered. He claimed a share, which claim was refused." "I should jolly well think so," said Jarman, emphatically, "considering Berry did nothing towards getting it. What cheek!" "So my master and Mr. Denham thought," said the negro, with a smile. "They refused the claim, and then Berry threatened to kidnap you two gentlemen. He thought he would then be able to force those who possessed the treasure to part with some of it. The tattooing was done so that if the kidnapping took place both of you would be recognised. But Berry never made the attempt." "He waited for a better opportunity."