The Courage of Captain Plum | Page 5

you for the third and last time that you've made
a mistake. I've got eight of the best rifles in America aboard my sloop
out there. But there's a man for every gun. And I've got something
hidden away underdeck that would blow up St. James in half an hour.
And there is powder and ball for the whole outfit. But that's all. I'll sell
you what I've got--for a good price. Beyond that you've got the wrong
man!"
He settled back and blew a volume of smoke from his pipe. For another

half minute the old man continued to look at him, his eyes twinkling,
and then he fell to counting again.
Captain Plum was not given over to the habit of cursing. But now he
jumped to his feet with an oath that jarred the table. The old man
chuckled. The gold pieces clinked between his fingers. Coolly he
shoved two glittering piles alongside the candle-stick, tumbled the rest
back into the leather bag, deliberately tied the end, and smiled up into
the face of the exasperated captain.
"To be sure you're not the man," he said, nodding his head until his
elf-locks danced around his face. "Of course you're not the man. I know
it--ho, ho! you can wager that I know it! A little ruse of mine, Captain
Plum. Pardonable--excusable, eh? I wanted to know if you were a liar. I
wanted to see if you were honest."
[Illustration: Captain Plum]
With a gasp of astonishment Captain Plum sank back into the chair. His
jaw dropped and his pipe was held fireless in his hand.
"The devil you say!"
"Oh, certainly, certainly, if you wish it," chuckled the little man, in high
humor. "I would have visited your sloop to-day, Captain Plum, if you
hadn't come ashore so opportunely this morning. Ho, ho, ho! a good
joke, eh? A mighty good joke!"
Captain Plum regained his composure by relighting his pipe. He heard
the chink of gold pieces and when he looked again the two piles of
money were close to the edge of his side of the table.
"That's for you, Captain Plum. There's just a thousand dollars in those
two piles." There was tense earnestness now in the old man's face and
voice. "I've imposed on you," he continued, speaking as one who had
suddenly thrown off a disguise. "If it had been any other man it would
have been the same. I want help. I want an honest man. I want a man
whom I can trust. I will give you a thousand dollars if you will take a

package back to your vessel with you and will promise to deliver it as
quickly as you can."
"I'll do it!" cried Captain Plum. He jumped to his feet and held out his
hand. But the old man slipped from his chair and darted swiftly out into
the blackness of the adjoining room. As he came back Captain Plum
could hear his insane chuckling.
"Business--business--business--" he gurgled. "Eh, Captain Plum? Did
you ever take an oath?" He tossed a book on the table. It was the Bible.
Captain Plum understood. He reached for the book and held it under his
left hand. His right he lifted above his head, while a smile played about
his lips.
"I suppose you want to place me under oath to deliver that package," he
said.
The old man nodded. His eyes gleamed with a feverish glare. A sudden
hectic flush had gathered in his death-like cheeks. He trembled. His
voice rose barely above a whisper.
"Repeat," he commanded. "I, Captain Nathaniel Plum, do solemnly
swear before God--"
A thrilling inspiration shot into Captain Plum's brain.
"Hold!" he cried. He lowered his hand. With something that was almost
a snarl the old man sprang back, his hands clenched. "I will take this
oath upon one other consideration," continued Captain Plum. "I came
to Beaver Island to see something of the life and something of the
people of St. James. If you, in turn, will swear to show me as much as
you can to-night I will take the oath."
The old man was beside the table again in an instant.
"I will show it to you--all--all--" he exclaimed excitedly. "I will show it
to you--yes, and swear to it upon the body of Christ!"

Captain Plum lifted his hand again and word by word repeated the oath.
When it was done the other took his place.
"Your name?" asked Captain Plum.
A change scarcely perceptible swept over the old man's face.
"Obadiah Price."
"But you are a Mormon. You have the Bible there?"
Again the old man disappeared into the adjoining room. When he
returned he placed two books side by side and stood them on edge so
that he might clasp