my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第2节
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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。 Judging from them；〃 he added accusingly；
〃you have a tendency to the romantic。〃 He spoke reluctantly as though
saying I had a tendency to epileptic fits or the morphine habit。
〃I am afraid；〃 I was forced to admit； 〃that to me pirates and buried
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treasure always suggest adventure。 And your criticism of my writings is
well observed。 Others have discovered the same fatal weakness。 We
cannot all；〃 I pointed out； 〃manufacture unshrinkable flannels。〃
At this compliment to his more fortunate condition； Edgar seemed to
soften。
〃I grant you；〃 he said； 〃that the subject has almost invariably been
approached from the point of view you take。 And what；〃 he demanded
triumphantly； 〃has been the result？ Failure； or at least； before success was
attained； a most unnecessary and regrettable loss of blood and life。 Now；
on my expedition； I do not intend that any blood shall be shed； or that
anybody shall lose his life。 I have not entered into this matter hastily。 I
have taken out information； and mean to benefit by other people's
mistakes。 When I decided to go on with this；〃 he explained； 〃I read all the
books that bear on searches for buried treasure； and I found that in each
case the same mistakes were made； and that then； in order to remedy the
mistakes； it was invariably necessary to kill somebody。 Now； by not
making those mistakes； it will not be necessary for me to kill any one； and
nobody is going to have a chance to kill me。
〃You propose that we fit out a schooner and sign on a crew。 What will
happen？ A man with a sabre cut across his forehead； or with a black patch
over one eye； will inevitably be one of that crew。 And； as soon as we sail；
he will at once begin to plot against us。 A cabin boy who the conspirators
think is asleep in his bunk will overhear their plot and will run to the
quarter…deck to give warning； but a pistol shot rings out； and the cabin boy
falls at the foot of the companion ladder。 The cabin boy is always the first
one to go。 After that the mutineers kill the first mate； and lock us in our
cabin； and take over the ship。 They will then broach a cask of rum； and all
through the night we will listen to their drunken howlings； and from the
cabin airport watch the body of the first mate rolling in the lee scuppers。〃
〃But you forget；〃 I protested eagerly； 〃there is always ONE faithful
member of the crew； who〃
Edgar interrupted me impatiently。
〃I have not overlooked him；〃 he said。 〃He is a Jamaica negro of
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gigantic proportions； or the ship's cook； but he always gets his too； and he
gets it good。 They throw HIM to the sharks！ Then we all camp out on a
desert island inhabited only by goats； and we build a stockade； and the
mutineers come to treat with us under a white flag； and we； trusting
entirely to their honor； are fools enough to go out and talk with them。 At
which they shoot us up； and withdraw laughing scornfully。〃 Edgar fixed
his eye…glasses upon me accusingly。
〃Am I right； or am I wrong？〃 he demanded。 I was unable to answer。
〃The only man；〃 continued Edgar warmly who ever showed the slightest
intelligence in the matter was the fellow in the 'Gold Bug。 HE kept his
mouth shut。 He never let any one know that he was after buried treasure；
until he found it。 That's me！ Now I know EXACTLY where this treasure is；
and〃
I suppose； involuntarily； I must have given a start of interest； for Edgar
paused and shook his head； slyly and cunningly。 〃And if you think I have
the map on my person now；〃 he declared in triumph； 〃you'll have to guess
again！〃
〃Really；〃 I protested； 〃I had no intention〃
〃Not you； perhaps；〃 said Edgar grudgingly； 〃but your Japanese valet
conceals himself behind those curtains； follows me home； and at night〃
〃I haven't got a valet；〃 I objected。
Edgar merely smiled with the most aggravating self… sufficiency。 〃It
makes no difference；〃 he declared。 〃NO ONE will ever find that map； or
see that map； or know where that treasure is； until I point to the spot。〃
〃Your caution is admirable；〃 I said； 〃but what；〃 I jeered； 〃makes you
think you can point to the spot； because your map says something like；
'Through the Sunken Valley to Witch's Caldron； four points N。 by N。 E。 to
Gallows Hill where the shadow falls at sunrise； fifty fathoms west； fifty
paces north as the crow flies； to the Seven Wells'？ How the deuce；〃 I
demanded； 〃is any one going to point to that spot？〃
〃It isn't that kind of map；〃 shouted Edgar triumphantly。 〃 If it had been；
I wouldn't have gone on with it。 It's a map anybody can read except a half…
caste Portuguese sailor。 It's as plain as a laundry bill。 It says；〃 he paused
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apprehensively； and then continued with caution； 〃it says at such and such
a place there is a something。 So many somethings from that something are
three what…you…may…call… 'ems； and in the centre of these three what…you…
may…call…'ems is buried the treasure。 It's as plain as that！〃
〃Even with the few details you have let escape you；〃 I said； 〃I could
find THAT spot in my sleep。〃
〃I don't think you could；〃 said Edgar uncomfortably； but I could see
that he had mentally warned himself to be less communicative。 〃And；〃 he
went on； 〃I am willing to lead you to it； if you subscribe to certain
conditions。〃
Edgar's insulting caution had ruffled my spirit。
〃Why do you think you can trust ME？〃 I asked haughtily。 And then；
remembering my share of the million dollars； I added in haste； 〃I accept
the conditions。〃
〃Of course； as you say； one has got to take SOME risk；〃 Edgar
continued； 〃but I feel sure；〃 he said； regarding me doubtfully； 〃you would
not stoop to open robbery。〃 I thanked him。
〃Well； until one is tempted；〃 said Edgar； 〃one never knows WHAT he
might do。 And I've simply GOT to have one other man； and I picked on
you because I thought you could write about it。〃
〃I see；〃 I said； 〃I am to act as the historian of the expedition。〃
〃That will be arranged later；〃 said Edgar。 〃What I chiefly want you for
is to dig。 Can you dig？〃 he asked eagerly。 I told him I could； but that I
would rather do almost anything else。
〃I MUST have one other man；〃 repeated Edgar； 〃a man who is strong
enough to dig； and strong enough to resist the temptation to murder me。〃
The retort was so easy that I let it pass。 Besides； on Edgar； it would have
been wasted。
〃I THINK you will do；〃 he said with reluctance。 〃And now the
conditions！〃
I smiled agreeably。
〃You are already sworn to secrecy；〃 said Edgar。 〃And you now agree
in every detail to obey me implicitly； and to accompany me to a certain
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place； where you will dig。 If I find the treasure； you agree； to help me
guard it； and convey it to wherever I decide it is safe to leave it。 Your
responsibility is then at an end。 One year after the treasure is discovered；
you will be free to write the account of the expedition。 For what you write；
some magazine may pay you。 What it pays you will be your share of the
treasure。〃
Of my part of the million dollars； which I had hastily calculated could
not be less than one…fifth； I had already spent over one hundred thousand
dollars and was living far beyond my means。 I had bought a farm with a
waterfront on the Sound； a motor…boat； and； as I was not sure which make
