I'm sure
Captain Morin suspected that Rosa wasn't a boy, but he was
perfectly foolish about Jacket and tolerated us on his account. We
owe everything to that kid; he's wonderful. I made Morin
independent for life, but it wasn't the money, it was Jacket who
induced him to bring us clear to Turiguano. He landed us one
night, this side of the Moron trocha. Since then we've waded
swamps to our armpits, we've fought the jungle and chewed bark--
but we're here." Johnnie heaved a deep sigh of relief.
"Where did you get the money to hire schooners and corrupt
captains?" Branch inquired. "You were broke when I knew you."
O'Reilly hesitated; he lowered his voice to a whisper. "We found
the Varona treasure."
Norine uttered a cry. "Not Don Esteban's treasure?"
"Exactly. It was in the well where young Esteban told us it was."
"Oh, Johnnie! You mean thing!" exclaimed the girl. "You promised--
"
"You'll have a chance to dig," he laughed. "We couldn't begin to
bring all of it; we merely took the jewels and the deeds and what
money our clothes would hold. The rest--"
"Wait! WAIT!" Branch wailed, clapping his hand to his head.
"'Merely the jewels and the deeds and what money our clothes would
hold?' Bullets! Why, one suit of clothes will hold all the money
in the world! Am I dreaming? 'Money!' I haven't seen a bona-fide
dollar since I put on long pants.
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