arinterestinthem.Themurder,however,wasclearlymadeout,anditwascertainthatwemustallhavebeenconcernedinit.ThethreeSikhsgotpenalservitudeforlife,andIwascondemnedtodeath,thoughmysentencewasafterwardscommutedintothesameastheothers.
“Itwasratheraqueerpositionthatwefoundourselvesinthen.Therewewereallfourtiedbythelegandwithpreciouslittlechanceofevergettingoutagain,whileweeachheldasecretwhichmighthaveputeachofusinapalaceifwecouldonlyhavemadeuseofit.Itwasenoughtomakeamaneathisheartouttohavetostandthekickandthecuffofeverypettyjack-in-office,tohavericetoeatandwatertodrink,whenthatgorgeousfortunewasreadyforhimoutside,justwaitingtobepickedup.ItmighthavedrivenmemadbutIwasalwaysaprettystubbornone,soIjustheldonandbidedmytime.
“Atlastitseemedtometohavecome.IwaschangedfromAgratoMadras,andfromtheretoBlairIslandintheAndamans.Thereareveryfewwhiteconvictsatthissettlement,and,asIhadbehavedwellfromthefirst,Isoonfoundmyselfasortofprivilegedperson.IwasgivenahutinHopeTown,whichisasmallplaceontheslopesofMountHarriet,andIwasleftprettymuchtomyself.Itisadreary,fever-strickenplace,andallbeyondourlittleclearingswasinfestedwithwildcannibalnatives,whowerereadyenoughtoblowapoisoneddartatusiftheysawachance.Therewasdigging,andditching,andyam-planting,andadozenotherthingstobedone,sowewerebusyenoughalldaythoughintheeveningwehadalittletimetoourselves.Amongotherthings,Ilearnedtodispensedrugsforthesurgeon,andpickedupasmatteringofhisknowledge.AllthetimeIwasonthelookoutforachanceofescapebutitishundredsofmilesfromanyotherland,andthereislittleornowindinthoseseas:soitwasaterriblydifficultjobtogetaway.
“Thesurgeon,Dr.Somerton,wasafast,sportingyoungchap,andtheotheryoungofficerswouldmeetinhisroomsofaneveningandplaycards.Thesurgery,whereIusedtomakeupmydrugs,wasnexttohissitting-room,withasmallwindowbetweenus.Often,ifIfeltlonesome,Iusedtoturnoutthelampinthesurgery,andthen,standingthere,Icouldheartheirtalkandwatchtheirplay.Iamfondofahandatcardsmyself,anditwasalmostasgoodashavingonetowatchtheothers.TherewasMajorSholto,CaptainMorstan,andLieutenantBromleyBrown,whowereincommandofthenativetroops,andtherewasthesurgeonhimself,andtwoorthreeprison-officials,craftyoldhandswhoplayedaniceslysafegame.Averysnuglittlepartytheyusedtomake.
“Well,therewasonethingwhichverysoonstruckme,andthatwasthatthesoldiersusedalwaystoloseandthecivilianstowin.Mind,Idon’tsaythattherewasanythingunfair,butsoitwas.Theseprison-chapshaddonelittleelsethanplaycardseversincetheyhadbeenattheAndamans,andtheykneweachother’sgametoapoint,whiletheothersjustplayedtopassthetimeandthrewtheircardsdownanyhow.Nightafternightthesoldiersgotuppoorermen,andthepoorertheygotthemorekeentheyweretoplay.MajorSholtowasthehardesthit.Heusedtopayinnotesandgoldatfirst,butsoonitcametonotesofhandandforbigsums.Hesometimeswouldwinforafewdeals,justtogivehimheart,andthentheluckwouldsetinagainsthimworsethanever.Alldayhewouldwanderaboutasblackasthunder,andhetooktodrinkingadealmorethanwasgoodforhim.
“Onenighthelostevenmoreheavilythanusual.IwassittinginmyhutwhenheandCaptainMorstancamestumblingalongonthewaytotheirquarters.Theywerebosomfriends,thosetwo,andneverfarapart.Themajorwasravingabouthislosses.
“‘It’sallup,Morstan,’hewassaying,astheypassedmyhut.‘Ishallhavetosendinmypapers.Iamaruinedman.’
“‘Nonsense,oldchap!’saidtheother,slappinghimupontheshoulder.‘I’vehadanastyfacermyself,but—’ThatwasallIcouldhear,butitwasenoughtosetmethinking.
“AcoupleofdayslaterMajorSholtowasstrollingonthebeach:soItookthechanceofspeakingtohim.
“‘Iwishtohaveyouradvice,major,’saidI.
“‘Well,Small,whatisit?’heasked,takinghischerootfromhislips.
“‘Iwantedtoaskyou,sir,’saidI,‘whoistheproperpersontowhomhiddentreasureshouldbehandedover.Iknowwherehalfamillionworthlies,and,asIcannotuseitmyself,IthoughtperhapsthebestthingthatIcoulddowouldbetohanditovertotheproperauthorities,andthenperhapstheywouldgetmysentenceshortenedforme.’
“‘Halfamillion,Small?’hegasped,lookinghardatmetoseeifIwasinearnest.
“‘Quitethat,sir,—injewelsandpearls.Itliestherereadyforanyone.Andthequeerthingaboutitisthattherealownerisoutlawedandcannotholdproperty,sothatitbelongstothefirstcomer.’
“‘Togovernment,Small,’hestammered,—‘togovernment.’Buthesaiditinahaltingfashion,andIknewinmyheartthatIhadgothim.
“‘Youthink,then,sir,thatIshouldgivetheinformationtotheGovernor-General?’saidI,quietly.