Stirk inspected the coin. All of an inch across, it was of substantial thickness, ornately stamped with a large, equal-sided cross on one side and filigree work. ‘It’s Spanish, Laddie, I’ll give ye that. But it ain’t one I know, mate. Pieces-of-eight, why they’s silver only, an’ I dare t’ say are made better’n this.’
That only made McFadden more excited. ‘Yair, as I reckon too. Now I has m’ ideas about this’n and I’d give anything t’ know for sure.’
‘Ye’ve found treasure, is th’ size of it. Am I right, cuffin?’
McFadden’s eyes glittered. Then he sat back with a sigh. ‘Aye, lad. I think I have, but it’s not in m’ hands. An’ that’s the rub – this gets out, an’ every man on the island’ll be down firkling about like demons an’ I’ll lose it.’
‘Ye can’t get at it y’self, and are a-feared t’ go asking as y’r secret’ll get shared.’
‘Like y’ say.’
‘Well, now, an’ you’re at a stand. Either ye tells someone and loses y’r secret or you don’t, an’ ye never gets to lay hands on y’r treasure.’
McFadden winced. ‘True enough.’
Stirk raised an eyebrow. ‘Ye’d better lay it before me, cully. Y’ knows I’d give ye a right steer.’
‘An’ promise not t’ tell?’
‘On m’ honour, Laddie – as can be sealed wi’ a muzzler of ale.’
Stirk’s price duly met, McFadden lowered his voice. ‘It’s like this. When I fishes an’ it comes on to blow I generally makes f ’r the lee of one o’ they outer islands, Coll, Tiree or similar, and short-line for plaice an’ eel. One time, last autumn it was, I was in with one of ’em – never mind which – and I’m in close, sees one o’ them sea caverns, not s’ big, and decides to bait up for conger just off it.
‘While I’m laying out m’ lines I notices there’s a wreck bung up in the cavern. An old ’un, ye can always tell. We’ve more’n our share o’ shipwrecks in these waters so I doesn’t notice. There’s a good bite an’ we fights until I hauls him in, a right knaggy conger. I tells the skinker t’ settle him an’, it gettin’ on for dusk, heads back an’ I send him home. While there’s still light I guts the catch, an’ when I get t’ the eel … out pops this’n!’
‘Ye’re sayin’ he ate the coin?’ Stirk chuckled.
‘Fish go for bright ’n’ shiny things, y’ fool, everyone knows that.’ McFadden snorted.
‘So what’s it mean?’
‘Right, well, a conger don’t stray much. He finds a hole in th’ rocks an’ stays there, comin’ out to take any fish or such as passes.’
‘So?’
‘Can’t ye see it? If he took the coin it’s because it was right there, an’ couldn’t be anywhere else ’cos he don’t go a-cruisin’ like other fish.’
‘And-’
‘Yeah! The coins – they’re spillin’ out o’ the wreck. We got to go there an’ get diggin’ quick. But if I goes an’ they see me worritin’ away at th’ wreck all day, why, it’s all over begob!’
‘You think …’
‘That there shipwreck is from y’r Spanish Armada as was, them years ago. A fortune o’ gold aboard and, like them others, piles ashore in a storm. Could be a treasure s’ high a man can’t jump over it. Think on it, Toby – if we can get our fists on it we’d live like lords for th’ rest of our days!’
Stirk’s eyes gleamed. ‘We, y’ said?’
‘I can’t do it on m’ own, Toby. Come in wi’ me and it’ll just be we two …’
‘We gotta plan well, then, matey. Has ye any ideas?’
‘Yeah. I takes ye there and y’ slips over the side and gets in the cavern. I forgot t’ mention, there’s no way y’ can get down into it from above, and it’s out o’ sight anyways. That’s why no one’s touched it, see.’
‘So I digs an’ sweats while you’re a-catchin’ y’r fish.’
‘Y’ knows I can’t be seen at it, Toby,’ McFadden said reproachfully.
‘Don’t take on so, cuffin. I’ll do it f ’r such a prize, never fear. Now, first thing is t’ be sure this is what y’ say, out of an Armada barky. If not, there ain’t goin’ to be more gold – stands to reason. No other ship has treasure chests.’
‘And how are we goin’ t’ do that? Can’t ask about – the laird hears of it an’ he’ll not rest until he’s got it all, the bastard.’
‘Well, now, and I might ’ave an idea on that, Laddie …’
Kydd would be coming in for his bracer soon, and who better? He could be trusted and he had a head-piece. He would know what it was or how to find out.
But he was an officer and they had a different slant on things. What if he took it into his noggin to tell the Revenue or such? Kydd was a true north sort of cove right enough and if he … No, he wouldn’t. He knew the way of a Jack Tar and right now didn’t he want to be a part of it? He’d not turn them in.
Chapter 8
When Kydd entered Stirk gave a cheery hail. ‘What ho, Tom, mate! Bring y’r arse to anchor wi’ us.’ Whatever had passed up there on the heights seemed to have done him a power of good. ‘What’ll ye have?’
Kydd gave a wry smile. ‘The usual, Toby.’
Stirk turned and bellowed, ‘A jorum of y’r finest ale – with th’ splicin’s!’
After it had arrived, Stirk beckoned him closer. ‘I’ve a favour t’ beg of ye, Tom. See, Laddie here’s found somethin’ and he’s vexed t’ know what it is.’
‘Oh?’
‘He wants it to be like, confidential, no bugger t’ know he has it or they’ll be after him. So ye’ll keep it to y’rself?’
‘If that’s what he’s asking.’ Kydd glanced at McFadden curiously.
‘Right. Here it is.’ Stirk pushed out a fist, leaving the coin gleaming on the rough table.
Kydd shielded his hand as he palmed it up, looked at it closely, then passed it back.
‘Well?’ Stirk demanded, with a frown.
‘Laddie, where did you get this?’
‘Never mind. What is it, f ’r God’s sake?’
‘No question. This is a gold doubloon, dates back a ways, time of Good Queen Bess, I shouldn’t wonder.’
‘Spanish Armada, like.’
‘You could say that, yes.’
Stirk and McFadden exchanged triumphant glances. ‘Well, that’s right good in ye t’ tip us the wink. We’s obliged.’
Kydd’s face tightened in suspicion. ‘You’ve found this, haven’t you? Came up in your fishing gear. A wreck or similar.’
‘Told ye he was a sharp ’un,’ Stirk muttered.
‘Your duty’s clear – it’s to report to the Receiver of Wreck directly, no delay. Else you’ll have every kind of juggins up to hookum snivey to plunder it.’
‘I never said it come from a piggin’ wreck, did I?’ McFadden retorted hotly. ‘’S mine, an’ that’s the truth!’
‘Stow it, Laddie. It came from y’r poor ole aunt as died, didn’t it? No need t’ trouble that Receiver gullion then.’
Chapter 9
Next morning the inaugural meeting of the Dunlochry Treasure Company took place, Tobias Stirk in the chair and secretary Brian McFadden recording. There being no others present they came quickly to the business before the meeting.
‘Equal shares – equal rhino,’ Stirk stated. ‘All them in favour?’
‘If it means if a cove puts in more pewter an’ he gets back more’n the other’s share o’ the cobbs, I’m agin it!’
‘No, mate. Chair says as we all puts in the same. Them as hangs back loses their share.’
‘How much-’
‘I’ve a bit put by, if ’n you’s short. Now we votes. All in favour?’
‘Aye.’
‘Carried. So y’r boat comes in wi’ Maid o’ Lorne. Rest of it is-’
‘Hold, y’ scallywag. If your boat’s in that means Jeb Stirk has t’ be in on it too. Can’t sail her else. Does he get shares?’
‘Does yourn Wee Laurie get shares? No, cully. Boat ’n’ crew all the same – one share.’
Chair then called an intermission. After pots had been duly refreshed the meeting came to order.
‘So what’s next up?’
‘We go get the treasure!’
‘Not s’ fast, Toby! If we goes and-’
‘It’s Mr Chair.’
‘Bugger Mr Chair! I’m sayin’ as how I stand t’ lose everything once ye sees where it is. What’s to stop ye crackin’ on one night an’ liftin’ it all for y’r self?’