CHAPTER XXVIII.
SPARWICK LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
Bogle and Raikes exchanged quick glances which Sparwick did not see. Thelatter was by far the tallest and strongest of the three. Doubtless thisfact was taken into consideration by his companions.
"Keep cool," expostulated Bogle. "No need to fly into a temper. We wantto discuss this thing peaceably."
"That'll suit me," said Sparwick. "I'm to have square dealing, then,am I?"
"Of course you are," assured Raikes.
"It depends on what you call square," hastily added Bogle. "I hopeyou'll look at it the same way we do. In the first place, Sparwick, youwant to remember that Raikes and I have had all the trouble and expenseof working this thing up. It was planned weeks ago; and look what we hadto contend with before we got the lad in our hands. Would it be fair foryou to chip in and demand a big slice out of our hard-earned reward?"
There was no reply. Sparwick gazed straight at the table. There was anexpression on his face which his companions neither noticed norunderstood.
"I see you are taking a sensible view of it," resumed Bogle. "To comeright to the point, this is what Raikes and I will do: When the matteris settled and we lay our hands on the money, we will give you fivehundred dollars--the original sum you had counted on getting. Thecondition attached to this is that you remain here while Raikes is inNew York, and help me to guard these three lads. I'll admit that Raikespromised you a thousand dollars, but he did that before he had achance to consult me. That's what I call square dealing. How does itstrike you?"
Sparwick had meanwhile seated himself. Now he rose and leaned across thetable. He shook his fist in Bogle's face. He glared at him with flashingeyes and quivering nostrils.
"Liar! skunk!" he snarled. "Yes, an' you, too, Raikes. You're a pairof cussed skinflints. You'd sneak out of your bargain, would you? You'doffer me a dirty five hundred dollars to help do your dirty work, whileeach of you pockets purty near five thousand? If you'd stuck to thethousand you promised, you'd have found me fair an' square. Butnow----"
Rage got the better of Sparwick. His right arm shot out and took Bogleon the face with such stunning force as to topple him over backward. Hewas quickly up again, with blood streaming from a badly smashed nose.
"Hit him, Raikes, hit him!" he cried, with an interlarding oftrooper-like oaths.
But before Raikes could make up his mind, a backhanded blow caused himto turn a somersault over the bench. He was a plucky fellow, and asquickly as possible he was on his feet.
The boys felt like cheering. They waited in keen suspense for the endof the struggle. Would the result bring them freedom or captivity?
The next move on Sparwick's part was a sudden and unexpected one. Hedodged Raikes from the rear and sprang upon the table. He jumped down onthe other side and rushed toward the fireplace, his object being toseize the rifles.
His enemies knew this, and they did their best to checkmate him. Boglethrust out his foot, and when Sparwick tripped heavily to the floor, hethrew himself upon his back.
He was instantly reinforced by Raikes, yet the two together were lessthan a match for the big fellow; at least, when he was in such adesperate mood. Sparwick fought from underneath for a few seconds,dealing and receiving blows. Then he strained every muscle and roseslowly up, with his foes still clinging to him. He shook them off as apanther would scatter a pack of hounds.
Bogle fell in one direction, and Raikes in another. They had no desireto renew the struggle on the same terms. As soon as they could get totheir feet, they sped across the room, and snatched two rifles fromabove the door. These Sparwick had not observed, but meanwhile he hadcaptured a loaded weapon from over the fireplace.
This led, oddly enough, to a drawn game. On the very instant whenSparwick drew a bead on the foremost of his enemies, both Raikes andBogle leveled their weapons straight at his breast. There was a briefand awful pause. Why neither party opened fire it is impossible to say.Some strange instinct stayed their hands.
"Put them weapons down," said Sparwick, in calm tones.
"Lower yours first," replied Raikes.
"Not likely," muttered Sparwick. "I can't trust two such lyin' skunksan' sneaks."
There was another pause. Then Raikes let the barrel of his weapon fall.Bogle instantly did the same.
"Your turn, Sparwick," he said, suddenly. "I'm a peaceable man, andwould go a good deal out of my way any time to avoid bloodshed. So thethousand dollars is yours; I give you my word on it. It's not a squaredeal, though. You ought to have been satisfied with five hundred."
"That ain't my way of thinkin'," replied Sparwick, as he slightlylowered his rifle; "and as for the offer of a thousand, why, that's cometoo late. What I want now is five thousand, an' I'm going ter have it orbust this game."
This audacious statement made Raikes and Bogle fairly gasp for breath.
"Five thousand dollars!" screamed Bogle. "What do you take us for? Doyou expect us to give you half of the whole sum?"
In his anger, he lifted his rifle again.
"Drop that," cried Sparwick. "If you do it another time, I'll put abullet through you. I'm one against two, an' if it comes to a shootin'match, possibly I might get wiped out; but I reckon you won't kill mefor fear of hangin'. An' I reckon you'll agree ter what I ask, since ifyou refuse, your game is up. I don't mean that you should give me halfof the ten thousand. We'll go shares alike. Make the lad write themletters over ag'in an' change the figger to fifteen thousand. That willgive us five thousand apiece. Make up your minds purty quick. I'm in thegame fur full shares, an' I intend to stay."
It was evident that Sparwick meant every word, and would submit to noarbitration. He glanced calmly and aggressively at the two baffledrascals, conscious that he had turned the tables upon them.
Bogle glanced at Raikes, and in that glance was a subtle meaning, knownonly to the two. In a contest of wits and cunning, Sparwick wasimmeasurably their inferior.
"Your greediness will spoil the whole game," growled Bogle. "It's flyingmighty high to ask ten thousand dollars. If we make it fifteen thousand,this lawyer will likely pitch us overboard and appeal to the police."
"The one amount would be paid as quickly as t'other," replied Sparwick."To a man as well off as John Larkins is reckoned to be, five thousanddollars ain't anything. Is it yes or no?"
"It's yes," muttered Bogle. "It couldn't well be anything else, sinceyou've got the drop on Raikes and me. We'll carry the thing out as yousay. Only if they stick at the amount, you'll shoulder the blame."
"If the thing is well done, there won't be any stickin'," said Sparwick.
His aggressive manner disappeared as he stepped forward and laid hisrifle on the table.
Raikes and Bogle did the same. Their faces assumed a good humoredexpression that seemed to say: "We are going to take our defeatgracefully." The next minute the three men were conversing on amiableterms.
It was now past midday. Raikes at once began to prepare dinner. Bogleand Sparwick overhauled the contents of the two sleds and stored thedishes and provisions away in the cupboard.
The meal was a good one, and well cooked. The boys were treated kindly,and given all they could eat. In spite of their unpleasant situation,they had keen appetites.
After dinner, writing materials were brought out, and Brick was calledupon to rewrite the two letters. He demurred at first, but a fewunpleasant threats and a glimpse of the narrow closet finally led to hisyielding.
The steel bracelets were then locked upon his wrists again. Jerry andHamp were also placed beyond the possibility of escape by having theirarms tightly bound behind their backs with ropes.