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gained last night by the villain who broke into the Pontiacno doubt the
Lascar。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Nott； meditatively。 〃The Lascar！ There's suthin' in that。
That Lascar I fastened down in the hold last night unbeknownst to you； Mr。
Renshaw； and let him out again this morning ekally unbeknownst。〃
〃And you let him carry his information to Sleightwithout a word！〃
said Renshaw； with a sickening sense of Nott's utter fatuity。
〃I sent him back with a message to the man he kem from；〃 said Nott；
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winking both his eyes at Renshaw； significantly； and making signs behind
his daughter's back。
Rosey； conscious of her lover's irritation； and more eager to soothe his
impatience than from any faith in her suggestion； interfered。 〃Why not
examine the place where he was concealed？ he may have left some traces
of his search。〃
The two men looked at each other。 〃Seem' ez I've turned the Pontiac
over to Sleight jist ez it stands； I don't know ez it's 'xactly on the square；〃
said Nott doubtfully。
〃You've a right to know at least WHAT you deliver to him；〃
interrupted Renshaw brusquely： 〃Bring a lantern。〃
Followed by Rosey； Renshaw and Nott hurriedly sought the lower
deck and the open hatch of the forehold。 The two men leaped down first
with the lantern； and then assisted Rosey to descend。 Renshaw took a step
forward and uttered a cry。
The rays of the lantern fell on the ship's side。 The Lascar had； during
his forced seclusion； put back the boxes of treasure and replaced the
planking； yet not so carefully but that the quick eye of Renshaw had
discovered it。 The next moment he had stripped away the planking again；
and the hurriedly…restored box which the Lascar had found fell to the deck；
scattering part of its ringing contents。 Rosey turned pale； Renshaw's eyes
flashed fire； only Abner Nott remained quiet and impassive。
〃Are you satisfied you have been duped？〃 said Renshaw passionately。
To their surprise Mr。 Nott stooped down； and picking up one of the
coins handed it gravely to Renshaw。 〃Would ye mind heftin' that 'ere coin
in your handfeelin' it； bitin' it； scrapin' it with a knife； and kinder seein'
how it compares with other coins？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said Renshaw。
〃I mean that that yer cointhat ALL the coins in this yer box； that all
the coins in them other boxesand ther's forty on 'emis all and every one
of 'em counterfeits！〃
The piece dropped unconsciously from Renshaw's hand； and striking
another that lay on the deck gave out a dull； suspicious ring。
〃They waz counterfeits got up by them Dutch supercargo sharps for
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dealin' with the Injins and cannibals and South Sea heathens ez bows
down to wood and stone。 If satisfied them ez well ez them buttons ye puts
in missionary boxes； I reckon； and 'cepting ez freight； don't cost nothin'。 I
found 'em tucked in the ribs o' the old Pontiac when I bought her； and I
nailed 'em up in thar lest they should fall into dishonest hands。 It's a lucky
thing； Mr。 Renshaw； that they comes into the honest fingers of a square
man like Sleightain't it？〃
He turned his small； guileless eyes upon Renshaw with such child… like
simplicity that it checked the hysterical laugh that was rising to the young
man's lips。
〃But did any one know of this but yourself？〃
〃I reckon not。 I once suspicioned that old cap'en Bowers； who was
always foolin' round the hold yer； must hev noticed the bulge in the casin'；
but when he took to axin' questions I axed othersye know my style；
Rosey？ Come。〃
He led the way grimly back to the cabin； the young people following；
but turning suddenly at the companionway he observed Renshaw's arm
around the waist of his daughter。 He said nothing until they had reached
the cabin； when he closed the door softly； and looking at them both gently；
said with infinite cunning
〃Ef it isn't too late； Rosey； ye kin tell this young man ez how I forgive
him for havin' diskivered THE TREASURE of the Pontiac。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
It was nearly eighteen months afterwards that Mr。 Nott one morning
entered the room of his son…in…law at Madrono Cottage。 Drawing him
aside； he said with his old air of mystery； 〃Now ez Rosey's ailin' and don't
seem to be so eager to diskiver what's become of Mr。 Ferrers； I don't mind
tellin' ye that over a year ago I heard he died suddenly in Sacramento。
Thar was suthin' in the paper about his bein' a lunatic and claimin' to be a
relation to somebody on the Pontiac； but likes ez not it's only the way
those newspaper fellows got hold of the story of his wantin' to marry
Rosey。〃
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