CHAPTER XV.

NEW PLOTS.

At the name of the bold captain, Vail paled and Loucks looked alarmed, for they both recognized it as that of the man whom Admiral Semmes had mentioned as the partial legatee of the secret letter written by Nick’s father.

“Now, then, arrest me!” cried the captain, when he was satisfied that Nick was many blocks away. He flung himself into a chair and gazed contemptuously at the broker and his accomplice.

But neither of them spoke. There was a difference between dealing with a helpless, friendless boy and a big, powerful, self-possessed man.

“You’re downed, and confess it, eh?” said Eccles scornfully. “Well, you’re wise. That boy is a jewel, and has defeated your plots, but it happens that I came just in time. That money you dare not touch. As to the paper, if it’s yours, prove it. I claim that you stole it. If I find that you have injured my friend, Admiral Semmes, I’ll have you locked up before night.”

There was no reply yet. The plotters saw the uselessness of argument with their visitor.

“I’m going to leave here,” said Eccles, rising. “If you need me it won’t be hard to find me. You won’t want me, you thieving lubbers! You’re lucky to get off clear, as it is. Now, you try to trick me or follow me and it will be the worse for you.”

Captain Eccles darted a last menacing glance at Vail and Loucks and strode from the room.

As the door slammed after him the eyes of the plotters met.

One furious, desperate ejaculation alone left the lips of Vail, the broker.

It was----

“Ruined!”

“Yes, the boy and his friend have beaten us!”

“Follow him!”

“That man?”

“Yes.”

Loucks rubbed his bruised head ruefully and shrugged his shoulders.

“Not I,” he said.

“We must know where he goes--we must defeat his plans.”

“I’ll try it.”

Loucks caught up his hat and hurried from the room.

On the steps outside the building he paused.

Just across the road stood Captain Eccles. He saw Loucks, waved his cane warningly, and strode on.

Loucks turned to go back to the office, but at sight of a boy that stood between him and the door he halted and uttered an exclamation of surprise.

“Uncle!”

The boy who spoke the word was ragged and an unpleasant grin was on his face.

Loucks only stared at him.

“Uncle!” repeated the boy. “Don’t you know me?”

“Know you!” said the man, in a tone of disgust. “I should say I did. Jack Benson.”

“Yes, uncle. Ain’t you glad to see me?”

“What the dickens are you doing in New York?” demanded Loucks, with a frown.

“The folks sent me here.”

“Sent you _here_! In Heaven’s name, what for?”

“To see you. They said you’d find something for me to do.”

“Who said so?”

“The folks, uncle.”

“Confound the folks! They’ve sent you here to sponge on me. You look half starved.”

“I am,” Jack said quickly. “But say, uncle, what is that man doing here?”

“What man?”

“The one that shook the club at you.”

Loucks started, and an eager look came into his eyes.

“Do you know that man, Jack?” he asked.

“Sure I do.”

“Who is he?”

“Captain Eccles.”

“Yes. He told us that. But where’s he from?”

“Parkdale.”

“Do you know Nick Collins, too?”

“You bet I do.”

“Why do you say it that way?” asked Loucks.

“I had a row with him in Parkdale, and I got into trouble through getting even with him.”

Loucks’ crafty face worked with excitement.

“Look here, Jack,” he said. “I guess I can find something for you to do. In fact, I have a job for you right now.”

“I want something to eat first,” put in Benson.

“Oh, you’ll get all you want to eat. Do you see this?”

Loucks held up a ten-dollar gold piece that he had taken from his pocket.

Jack’s eyes glittered.

“Do I see it?” he said. “I should say so! What about it?”

“It’s yours if you do what I tell you.”

“I’ll do it,” declared Jack, not caring what the task might be. “I think I could eat up about half of it in ten minutes.”

“Well, do what I tell you and you can have all you want to eat.”

“All right.”

“I want you to follow that man.”

He pointed across the street, where Captain Eccles, his back to them now, stood looking in a shop window.

“Follow Captain Eccles?”

“Yes, and find out where he is staying.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Here’s the money. Now, don’t stop to eat. There’ll be plenty of time for that when you’ve found out what I want to know.”

Jack started to go.

“Wait a second,” said Loucks. “He’s standing there yet. Now, this man probably will meet Nick Collins.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Never mind. Just listen to me. If he should meet Nick, be sure you don’t let either of them see you. Bring me word here as soon as you have learned where they are living.”

“I’ll do it.”

“And, Jack--if you succeed I’ll make it twenty dollars. Quick! He’s going!”

Jack was off like a shot. He hit up a very good pace for a boy who was running on an empty stomach, and with a ten-dollar gold piece in his pocket. Fortunately for Loucks’ plan, however, Captain Eccles, after he turned a corner, entered a restaurant, and Jack followed him; so the boy, while keeping an eye on the captain, was able to satisfy the cravings of his stomach. It is no sure thing that Jack would not have abandoned the chase had this opportunity to eat not presented itself. As it was, he swallowed some food, followed the captain out of the restaurant, unseen by the latter, and kept him in sight for some time.

Meanwhile Loucks, a smile of satisfaction on his evil face, had gone back to the broker’s office. There he found Vail at his desk wearing a very long face.

“Cheer up, Vail,” said Loucks. “All is not lost yet.”

“What do you mean?”

Loucks told of his meeting with his nephew, and how he had sent him to shadow Captain Eccles.

“I don’t see how that is going to help us,” said Vail despondently.

“Don’t you?”

“I certainly do not.”

“Suppose we locate the captain?”

“Well?”

“And the boy?”

“What of it?”

“Suppose by that means we recover the paper and the money?”

“But we won’t.”

“Don’t be so sure of that. But even if we don’t recover them there is still a chance in our favor.”

“I should like to know what it is.”

“Oh, you would? Evidently you haven’t much faith in my judgment. Look here, Vail; suppose you stop thinking I’m a fool.”

“What are you driving at?” growled the broker.

“Just this,” answered the other triumphantly. “I made a duplicate key to your private box not long ago.”

Vail only frowned at this evidence of his associate’s duplicity and craft.

“You don’t seem to like that little precaution I took,” remarked Loucks.

“Precaution! Rascality, I call it,” Vail said.

“No,” returned Loucks quietly, “it was only a very wise move on my part, for which you have to thank me.”

“Explain yourself.”

“Well, last night I went to your box.”

“Indeed!”

“Yes; and I took out that blessed yellow package.”

“Pity you didn’t keep it out. Then the boy wouldn’t have got it.”

“Oh, I did better than keeping out.”

“Come, come,” said Vail impatiently. “Stop talking in riddles. What did you do?”

“I made a copy of the paper. There!”

Vail’s eyes lighted up with pleasure.

“You made a copy of it?” he said eagerly.

“That’s what I did.”

“Then--you--know--the location of the treasure?”

“Just as well as they do.”

“And it’s only a question of who gets to the island where it is first?”

“Precisely.”

“Good for you, Loucks! Splendid work!”

“I thought you’d say so.”

“Then we needn’t worry about the captain and the boy. Let them go.”

“Oh, no. I’m going to keep them in sight, just the same. I think I’ll be able to put them out of the way, so far as giving us any trouble goes. Meantime, you’d better go ahead with the arrangements to search for the treasure.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll take up the matter to-day.”

“Now you’re talking.”

“I know of a ship, the _Diamond_, a fast sailer, that can be chartered at once.”

“Take her.”

“I will. And the money?”

“I will have it by night.”

Two hours afterward, Loucks, sitting alone in the office, received a welcome visitor. He did not recognize him at first, but at closer view saw that it was his precious nephew.

“Jack!” he exclaimed.

“It’s me, uncle.”

“By Jingo! I didn’t know you.”

“No? Well, I’m disguised,” said Jack, grinning.

“I should say you were!”

Jack’s disguise was not very elaborate or skillful. It consisted merely of a handkerchief tied over his face so as almost to conceal it.

“I’ve got a terrible toothache,” the young scamp said, with a wink.

“I see. What did you put that thing on for?”

“Wasn’t I doing detective work?” asked Jack smartly. “This disguise helped me to watch those people you sent me after.”

“Without being recognized.”

“Bet your life, uncle.”

Jack was feeling good. He had just put away a large “feed” of corned beef and cabbage.

“Did you follow them?”

“Eccles--yes.”

“Where did he go?”

“To an old house near the river.”

“Was Nick Collins there?”

“Yes, and two other boys.”

“Who are they?”

“Frank and Will Alden.”

“You know them?”

“Oh, yes! They are from Parkdale.”

“Well?”

“The house is not occupied, except by them. I managed to sneak upstairs and listen to what they said.”

“They didn’t see you?”

“Trust me for that. I’m a natural-born detective!” said Jack proudly.

“Well, what did they say?”

“They seemed to have some paper about a treasure.”

“Yes, yes!” cried Loucks eagerly.

“They talked about it for a long time. Then they decided to go after it.”

“What, at once?”

“Yes, to-day. They said that others might be on the same track.”

“I understand,” commented Loucks impatiently.

“And hurry was the thing.”

“I see.”

“So the captain said they would go to Pan--Pan----”

“Panama?”

“That’s it--Panama--first.”

Loucks looked puzzled, but asked:

“And then?”

“He said that he had seen a friend, a ship captain, who sails for there to-morrow.”

“Did he speak this captain’s name?”

“Yes. Captain Dare.”

“Say that again!” cried Loucks sharply.

“Captain Dare.”

“You are sure?”

“Surest thing you know.”

“Did he name the ship?”

“Yes.”

“What was it?”

“The _Vista_.”

An ejaculation of delight came from Loucks.

“The _Vista!_” he cried. “Our ship. Jack, can I trust you?”

“You bet.”

“Here is a hundred dollars.”

In blank amazement Jack Benson stared at the bills Loucks placed in his hand. He had never seen so much money in his life.

“Mine?” he gasped.

“All yours, and double it if you obey.”

“I will.”

“Then come back here in an hour. Don’t let the captain or Nick Collins see you.”

“Not on your life.”

The minute Jack left the room Loucks gave way to the most extraordinary antics of joy. He paced the floor, laughed, chuckled, danced, and rubbed his hands in glee.

“Success!” he cried. “They sail on our leaky old scow, the _Vista_. Ha, ha, ha! We’ll insure the ship for seventy or eighty thousand dollars right away, send Jack on board with instructions, and burn her to the water’s edge in mid-ocean--Eccles, Collins, secret, and all. By jingo! My ragged nephew, is a trump! He’ll do the trick!”