"Nonsense," said Hal, remaining perfectly quiet. "This is no time for
heroics. I have come here to find out something and I am going to find it
out. Now how much of this gold have you given out as ordered, and how
much have you kept for yourself?"

"I--I--well, I have--" Nicholas began.

"As I thought," said Hal. "You have been holding out. We can't have
anything like that, you know. Where is the gold?"

Nicolas, for a moment, seemed about to make a denial, but Hal eyed him
steadily, and he said at last:

"It is under this floor here," and he tapped the floor with his foot.

"All right," said Hal. "In shape to be carried?"

"Why yes, I guess half a dozen men could carry it well enough."

"I am glad to hear that," said Hal, "because I want you to dig it out
right now."

Again Nicolas started to protest, but apparently thinking better of it,
changed his mind and said:

"It shall be as you say. But you will not hold this against me, my having
held some of the gold for my own?"

"Not if you do as I say."