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"'Nothing of the sort,' I answered 'I have thought it all out to the last detail The only bar to our escape is that we can get no boat fit for the voyage, and no provisions to last us for so long a time There are plenty of little yachts and yawls at Calcutta or Madras which would serve our turn well Do you bring one over We shall engage to get aboard her by night, and if you will drop us on any part of the Indian coast you will have done your part of the bargain'

"'If there were only one,' he said

"'None or all,' I answered 'We have sworn it The four of us ether'

"'You see, Morstan,' said he, 'Small is a man of his word He does not flinch from his friend I think we may very well trust him'

"'It's a dirty business,' the other answered 'Yet, as you say, the money would save our commissions handsomely'

"'Well, Small,' said the major, 'we must, I suppose, try and meet you We must first, of course, test the truth of your story Tell et leave of absence and go back to India in the monthly relief-boat to inquire into the affair'

"'Not so fast,' said I, growing colder as he got hot 'I must have the consent of my three comrades I tell you that it is four or none with us'

"'Nonsense!' he broke in 'What have three black fellows to do with our agreement?'

"'Black or blue,' said I, 'they are in with ether'

"Well, the h, Abdullah Khan, and Dost Akbar were all present We talked the ement We were to provide both the officers with charts of the part of the Agra fort and mark the place in the here the treasure was hid Major Sholto was to go to India to test our story If he found the box he was to leave it there, to send out a se, which was to lie off Rutland Island, and to which ere to make our way, and finally to return to his duties Captain Morstan was then to apply for leave of absence, to ra, and there ere to have a final division of the treasure, he taking the major's share as well as his own All this we sealed by the most solemn oaths that the ht with paper and ink, and by the n of four,--that is, of Abdullah, Akbar, Mahomet, and myself