"
"I haven't much faith in your word," Ned replied. "You played a
dirty game on me at Lima, you know."
"The chances of war!" Collins replied. "Now," he went on, "we can
come to terms without any reference to the International Peace
Congress, if we want to. I'll admit that if things were a little
different I wouldn't be asking for terms, but that is neither here
nor there. I want your assistance."
"On the level?" demanded Jimmie.
Jackson grinned scornfully, and Collins glared at both.
"The man we brought out here--merely as a matter of business--has
disappeared," Collins went on. "We left him in the little cavern
where you found his coat and the food. He's got away."
"You refer to Lyman?"
"Of course."
"You were keeping him a prisoner until his concession should lapse?"
"That's only business."
"When does it lapse, in case he does not appear and make payment?"
"On the 31st of August."
"And this is the 18th?"
"I think so. I'm pretty well mixed as to time, as well as
everything else."
"Then he has only fourteen days in which to get back to Asuncion and
make a large payment?"
"That is just it."
"And he is lost?"
"Yes."
"When did you see him last?"
"You remember how I came to be here? You brought me, trussed up
like a hen in that aeroplane harness.
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