Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/205

Rh "You will take the consequence, I say!" hissed Delverez. "What do I care for you? The Americanos made war on my beloved country without cause. I hate you all!" And he clenched his fist. "Come what may I will have the treasure!"

Dan was stirring again, and now he tried to rise up. "The treasure!" he repeated. "Oliver, don't let Caleb Merkin take it. Oh, you one-armed villain, come back! And stop Joe Koloa! He has part of the treasure, too! And that map! Caleb Merkin, come back!"

Poor Dan continued to rave for several minutes, without it being possible for Oliver or me to stop or quiet him. To all that our chum said Ramon Delverez listened with interest.

"Who is Caleb Merkin, the one-armed sailor?" he asked. "And who is Joe Koloa?"

"You will have to find out for yourself," answered Oliver.

He had scarcely spoken when Delverez leaped forward in a rage and kicked him in the head. "If you will not answer, take that!" he cried. Oliver was knocked insensible. I, too, received a savage kick; and then the Spaniard went out, taking Lola with him.

My readers can well imagine how painful, physically and mentally, my situation was to me. I wanted to help myself and to assist my two