"Yes, earned it," replied Sparwick, in a warmer tone. "I don't see how you kin deny the fact. I had a bargain with them two lads yonder to rescue their pardner, an' I was to receive a certain sum of money fur the work. Accidentally Raikes stumbled across us this mornin', an' I nabbed him. He had papers what showed up your little game. I could have blocked it as easy as rollin' off a log. Why didn't I tie Raikes to a tree, an' then push on here, and nab you, an' rescue the lad? You won't deny that I could have done it, an' made a heap of cash by the operation, too. But instead o' that I listens to Raikes. He says he'll take me in with you, an' give me twice the sum I was countin' on. So I agrees to it, an' we fixes the thing up. An' now this is the kind of treatment I get. It ain't fair an' square, Bogle, you know it ain't. An'

what's more, I ain't a man ter be sat down upon. This here agreement will be kept, or I'll know the reason why."

Sparwick's face flushed with anger and indignation. He rose to his feet, and pounded the table with his fist.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

SPARWICK LAYS DOWN THE LAW.

Bogle and Raikes exchanged quick glances which Sparwick did not see. The latter was by far the tallest and strongest of the three. Doubtless this fact was taken into consideration by his companions.

"Keep cool," expostulated Bogle. "No need to fly into a temper. We want to discuss this thing peaceably."

"That'll suit me," said Sparwick. "I'm to have square dealing, then, am I?"

"Of course you are," a.s.sured Raikes.

"It depends on what you call square," hastily added Bogle. "I hope you'll look at it the same way we do. In the first place, Sparwick, you want to remember that Raikes and I have had all the trouble and expense of working this thing up. It was planned weeks ago; and look what we had to contend with before we got the lad in our hands. Would it be fair for you 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 an expression on his face which his companions neither noticed nor understood.

"I see you are taking a sensible view of it," resumed Bogle. "To come right to the point, this is what Raikes and I will do: When the matter is settled and we lay our hands on the money, we will give you five hundred dollars--the original sum you had counted on getting. The condition attached to this is that you remain here while Raikes is in New York, and help me to guard these three lads. I'll admit that Raikes promised you a thousand dollars, but he did that before he had a chance to consult me. That's what I call square dealing. How does it strike you?"

Sparwick had meanwhile seated himself. Now he rose and leaned across the table. He shook his fist in Bogle's face. He glared at him with flashing eyes and quivering nostrils.

"Liar! skunk!" he snarled. "Yes, an' you, too, Raikes. You're a pair of cussed skinflints. You'd sneak out of your bargain, would you? You'd offer me a dirty five hundred dollars to help do your dirty work, while each of you pockets purty near five thousand? If you'd stuck to the thousand you promised, you'd have found me fair an' square. But now----"

Rage got the better of Sparwick. His right arm shot out and took Bogle on the face with such stunning force as to topple him over backward. He was quickly up again, with blood streaming from a badly smashed nose.

"Hit him, Raikes, hit him!" he cried, with an interlarding of trooper-like oaths.

But before Raikes could make up his mind, a backhanded blow caused him to turn a somersault over the bench. He was a plucky fellow, and as quickly as possible he was on his feet.

The boys felt like cheering. They waited in keen suspense for the end of the struggle. Would the result bring them freedom or captivity?

The next move on Sparwick's part was a sudden and unexpected one. He dodged Raikes from the rear and sprang upon the table. He jumped down on the other side and rushed toward the fireplace, his object being to seize the rifles.

His enemies knew this, and they did their best to checkmate him. Bogle thrust out his foot, and when Sparwick tripped heavily to the floor, he threw himself upon his back.

He was instantly reinforced by Raikes, yet the two together were less than a match for the big fellow; at least, when he was in such a desperate mood. Sparwick fought from underneath for a few seconds, dealing and receiving blows. Then he strained every muscle and rose slowly up, with his foes still clinging to him. He shook them off as a panther would scatter a pack of hounds.

Bogle fell in one direction, and Raikes in another. They had no desire to renew the struggle on the same terms. As soon as they could get to their feet, they sped across the room, and s.n.a.t.c.hed two rifles from above the door. These Sparwick had not observed, but meanwhile he had captured a loaded weapon from over the fireplace.

This led, oddly enough, to a drawn game. On the very instant when Sparwick drew a bead on the foremost of his enemies, both Raikes and Bogle leveled their weapons straight at his breast. There was a brief and 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' skunks an' 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, and would go a good deal out of my way any time to avoid bloodshed. So the thousand dollars is yours; I give you my word on it. It's not a square deal, though. You ought to have been satisfied with five hundred."

"That ain't my way of thinkin'," replied Sparwick, as he slightly lowered his rifle; "and as for the offer of a thousand, why, that's come too late. What I want now is five thousand, an' I'm going ter have it or bust this game."

This audacious statement made Raikes and Bogle fairly gasp for breath.

"Five thousand dollars!" screamed Bogle. "What do you take us for? Do you 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 a bullet 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 me for fear of hangin'. An' I reckon you'll agree ter what I ask, since if you refuse, your game is up. I don't mean that you should give me half of the ten thousand. We'll go shares alike. Make the lad write them letters over ag'in an' change the figger to fifteen thousand. That will give us five thousand apiece. Make up your minds purty quick. I'm in the game fur full shares, an' I intend to stay."

It was evident that Sparwick meant every word, and would submit to no arbitration. He glanced calmly and aggressively at the two baffled rascals, conscious that he had turned the tables upon them.

Bogle glanced at Raikes, and in that glance was a subtle meaning, known only to the two. In a contest of wits and cunning, Sparwick was immeasurably their inferior.

"Your greediness will spoil the whole game," growled Bogle. "It's flying mighty 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 thousand dollars ain't anything. Is it yes or no?"

"It's yes," muttered Bogle. "It couldn't well be anything else, since you've got the drop on Raikes and me. We'll carry the thing out as you say. 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 his rifle on the table.

Raikes and Bogle did the same. Their faces a.s.sumed a good humored expression that seemed to say: "We are going to take our defeat gracefully." The next minute the three men were conversing on amiable terms.

It was now past midday. Raikes at once began to prepare dinner. Bogle and Sparwick overhauled the contents of the two sleds and stored the dishes 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 appet.i.tes.

After dinner, writing materials were brought out, and Brick was called upon to rewrite the two letters. He demurred at first, but a few unpleasant threats and a glimpse of the narrow closet finally led to his yielding.

The steel bracelets were then locked upon his wrists again. Jerry and Hamp were also placed beyond the possibility of escape by having their arms tightly bound behind their backs with ropes.