And I'll promise you they'll
follow us to hell, and back----"
"That!" exclaimed Edgar, "is exactly what I feared! "
"I beg your pardon!" I exclaimed.
"That's exactly what I DON'T want," said Edgar sternly. "I don't
INTEND to get into any tight corners. I don't WANT to go to hell!"
I saw that in my enthusiasm I had perhaps alarmed him. I continued
more temperately.
"Any expedition after treasure," I pointed out, "is never without
risk. You must have discipline, and you must have picked men.
Suppose there's a mutiny? Suppose they try to rob us of the
treasure on our way home? We must have men we can rely on, and men
who know how to pump a Winchester. I can get you both. And
Bannerman will furnish me with anything from a pair of leggins to
a quick firing gun, and on Clark Street they'll quote me a special
rate on ship stores, hydraulic pumps, divers' helmets----"
Edgar's eye-glasses became frosted with cold, condemnatory scorn.
He shook his head disgustedly.
"I was afraid of this!" he murmured.
I endeavored to reassure him.
"A little danger," I laughed, "only adds to the fun."
"I want you to understand," exclaimed Edgar indignantly, "there
isn't going to be any danger. There isn't going to be any fun. This
is a plain business proposition. I asked you those questions just
to test you. And you approached the matter exactly as I feared you
would. I was prepared for it. In fact," he explained shamefacedly,
"I've read several of your little stories, and I find they run to
adventure and blood and thunder; they are not of the analytical
school of fiction.
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