"How about the _Southern Cross_?" said he.
"Well, we salved her, didn't we, or as good as salved her? Hakluyt ought to pay for that."
"It was this way," replied Schumer. "Before coming into the venture he wanted half profits. He gave me to understand that our connection with the _Southern Cross_ was in no way a salving job, since the crew were on board, and he said straight out that he would fight the matter in the courts. Now, as he has lots of money to fight with, and we have none, or next to none, I didn't see any sense in that. He said to me: 'I'll tell you what I'll do. In recognition of your trouble in bringing the schooner back to Sydney, I'll be content to take only a third of the profits in this pearling business. What's more, I will use the schooner for it free of charge and victual and man her.'
"Now, that seemed to me a fair proposition, and I agreed to it. What do you say?"
Floyd did not reply for a moment. He could come to no decision. The whole thing was so intricate and the values involved were such unknown qualities that at last he gave it up. If Schumer was satisfied it was doubtless all right. Schumer knew more of business affairs than he did, and it was better to leave it at that.
"Well," said he, "I suppose you couldn't do better, but it seems to me Hakluyt won't do badly out of the business. Wait till I show you something."
They had reached the house, and, taking the cash box from Schumer, Floyd placed it on the table and opened it.
He carefully removed some of the contents till he came to the package he was looking for; then, carefully removing the cotton wool from it, he exposed the pink pearl.
"Heavens, man!" said Schumer. "Why didn't you tell me of this?"
He took another small ball of wool from the box, unrolled the wool, and held out the big white pearl.
"Not of that size," replied Floyd. "Well, what do you think of them?"
"Think of them? They are a fortune in themselves."
He carefully rolled them up again and replaced them in the box.
Meanwhile Floyd had been unpacking other specimens, which Schumer examined in their turn. He seemed well pleased with the take since his absence, as well he might be.
"I will have the safe brought ashore to-morrow," said he. "Meanwhile they will be all right here. Put them all back and come on. We have to tackle these scamps now and bring them to their senses. I don't want any fighting, if possible, for that would mean killing more of them, and we want them all for the fishery."