"It may come in
handy when we are ready to clear out of this pesthole."
"Where did you get it?"
"Oh, I stole it. I steal everything I can lay my hands on
nowadays. One can never tell when he may have a throat to cut, and
a file has good steel in it."
"Since you are such an accomplished thief, do you think you could
steal something for me?" O'Reilly inquired. "A piece of rope?"
"Rope?" Jacket was puzzled. "Rope is only good for hanging
Spaniards. My friend in the fish-market has a volandra, and--
perhaps I can rob him of a halyard." Laying aside his task, Jacket
arose and made off in the direction of the water-front. He was
back within an hour, and under his shirt he carried a coil of
worn, but serviceable, rope. Without waiting to explain his need
for this unusual article, O'Reilly linked arms with the boy and
set out to climb La Cumbre. When at last they stood in the unused
quarry and Johnnie made known his intention to explore the old
well Jacket regarded him with undisguised amazement.
"What do you expect to find down there?" the latter inquired.
"To tell you the truth, I don't really expect to find anything,"
the man confessed. "Now that I'm here, I'm beginning to feel
silly; nevertheless, I'm going to have a look for the hidden
treasure of the Varonas."
"Hidden treasure!" From Jacket's expression it was plain that he
feared his friend was mildly mad.
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