"One night he lost even more heavily than usual. I was sitting
in my hut when he and Captain Morstan came stumbling along on the
way to their quarters. They were bosom friends, those two, and
never far apart. The major was raving about his losses.
"'It's all up, Morstan,' he was saying, as they passed my hut.
'I shall have to send in my papers. I am a ruined man.'
"'Nonsense, old chap!' said the other, slapping him upon the
shoulder. 'I've had a nasty facer myself, but--' That was all I
could hear, but it was enough to set me thinking.
"A couple of days later Major Sholto was strolling on the beach:
so I took the chance of speaking to him.
"'I wish to have your advice, major,' said I.
"'Well, Small, what is it?' he asked, taking his cheroot from his
lips.
"'I wanted to ask you, sir,' said I, 'who is the proper person to
whom hidden treasure should be handed over. I know where half a
million worth lies, and, as I cannot use it myself, I thought
perhaps the best thing that I could do would be to hand it over
to the proper authorities, and then perhaps they would get my
sentence shortened for me.'
"'Half a million, Small?' he gasped, looking hard at me to see if
I was in earnest.
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