The Vast Abyss Part 78

"More have you. I arn't a fool. I see you trying to break open the winders with that thing."

"It's a lie; you didn't."

"Oh yes, I did. I know; I can see in the dark. What are you after?"

Sam was silent, and the disposition was on him strongly now to strike the fellow down.

He dismissed the thought again, feeling how useless it would be to make him an enemy, and the other course now offered itself to him.

"You don't want to know what I'm after," he said, with a faint laugh.

"It's only for a bit of fun."

"Not it. People don't break in at windows for fun. You give me something, or I'll go and tell."

Sam's heart leaped with satisfaction at this. Money, then, would buy the young scoundrel off, and he hastily took out a coin, and held it out so as to silence his enemy; but at the same time he felt that there was nothing to be done now but get back to town with his mission unfulfilled.

To his great delight the coin was s.n.a.t.c.hed and pocketed, but he did not feel so well satisfied the next moment.

"That's on'y a shillin'. Give's another."

A second was held out and taken.

"Now I wants another," said Pete, and upon this being given, he demanded a fourth, and then a fifth.

Pete was satisfied now, and he said with a low chuckle--

"If any o' these is bad 'uns, I shall go and tell."

"But they're not, they're all good," whispered Sam. "Now be off."

"Shee-arn't! I'm goin' to stop and see what you do. But you can't get in like that. The winders has all got noo fasteners. I could get in if I liked."

"How?" said Sam, in spite of himself.

"Think I'm goin' to tell you for this," said Pete. "You give me another, and I'll show you how to get in. I see you come in the wood and smoke over yonder."

"And you've been watching me ever since?"

"Course I have. What do you want to get?"

Sam made no answer, for he was trying to arrange his thoughts, and make out what was the best thing to do. Then all at once Pete broke out with--

"You ain't half a chap. I could soon get in there if I wanted."

"Could you? How?"

"I've been in the mill lots o' times," said Pete evasively, "'fore they took the stones out, and since old d.i.c.ky Brandon pulled the sails off."

"Tell me how you managed it," said Sam, after a glance round; for, mingled with his uneasy feeling about being betrayed by the great lad before him, he began to feel desperate, and as if he must succeed now he had gone so far. He was convinced in his own mind that the most likely place to find the doc.u.ments he sought would be in his uncle's study, and to him the first floor of the old mill was that study. Tom had told him as much, and that the old walnut-wood bureau was the depository where their uncle kept his papers.

"People in the country are such idiots," he said to himself; "they never think of having strongrooms or iron safes. He has locked the papers up there as sure as a gun."

It was with a certainty of this being the case that he had come down, and now that there was nothing between him and the prize but a window and this spying lad, the position was irritating to a degree.

Sam thrust his hand into his pocket, where it came in contact with half-a-sovereign and some silver, and he began to think that of these he could perhaps after all make a key. The only question was how to begin.

Pete had uttered a low sn.i.g.g.e.ring laugh on hearing Sam's last question, and now feeling that he must either act or give up; the latter repeated his inquiry.

"I used to have some bantams," replied the young scoundrel. "Bantams like wheat and barley."

"And you used to come and steal some for them?" said Sam sharply.

"Oh, did I? Who said anything about stealing? I didn't eat the barley; the bantams did."

"But you stole it all the same," said Sam, who felt now that he had a handle to take hold of.

"Oh, did I? So are you," snarled Pete. "You've come to steal something, or you wouldn't be here in the dark."

"Never you mind about that," said Sam quickly. "Look here; you tell me the way to get in, and I'll give you another shilling."

Pete thrust his dirty face close to Sam's.

"Give us hold then."

"No; you show me the way first."

"Shee-arn't! Give us the shillin' first."

"I don't believe you know a way."

"Oh, don't I! You give me the shillin', and you'll see."

Sam hesitated, but there was no time to lose. It seemed to be his only policy to make friends with this young ruffian, and he finally took a shilling out of his pocket, the action being grasped at once by the lad in spite of the darkness.

"No games," said Sam. "If I give you the shilling, will you tell me fairly?"

"Course I will."

"There; now tell me."

Pete took the shilling handed, made believe to spit upon it, and thrust it into his pocket.

"Winders is fastened up tight now."

"What, those up higher too?"

"Yes; all on 'em."