Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/308

290 "Say, Dave Porter, you think you are smart, don't you?" sneered the big youth, as he got up on his feet.

"Never mind what I think. I want those jewels, every one of them, and I am going to have them."

"I haven't any jewels."

"I know better."

"All right then, you can search me if you want to—and search my baggage, too," went on Jasniff, and held out his arms as if willing to have the investigation begin on the spot.

"If you haven't the jewels on your person, you have hidden them," went on Dave. "Bring them out, right away."

"Not much, Porter, I am not that kind of a fool." Jasniff lowered his voice to a whisper. "To outsiders I won't acknowledge I have the jewels, but if you'll fix it so I go clear, I'll see to it that old Wadsworth gets the gems back."

"I'll fix nothing, Jasniff, and you'll hand over every jewel, and do it right now!" cried Dave, and now he was so angry that he leaped on the criminal and threw him backward over the trunk.

But if Dave was strong, so was Jasniff, and, as of old, the rascal thought nothing of playing a foul trick. Around and around the stateroom went both boys, with first Dave on top and then his opponent. Then suddenly Jasniff pulled