Dick listened with keen interest to this talk, which revealed a great deal.  Sid Merrick had made an arrangement to go on a voyage after the treasure!  How soon he would start there was no telling, but probably as quickly as he could get ready.  More than this, he expected to have with him the Spaniard, Doranez, the fellow who had said he was going to Spain to visit his relatives.  More than likely Merrick and Doranez were in league with each other and would do all in their power to keep the treasure out of the hands of the rightful owners.

“If only Tom and Sam were here,” thought Dick.  “Or if only Tom has captured Tad Sobber.  This is getting lively, to say the least.”

The men were now speaking in a lower tone and he put his ear to the keyhole, to catch what they might say.  Then, of a sudden, the door opened and he found himself confronted by Shelley.

“Thought I heard somebody in the hall!” cried that individual, and grabbed Dick by the arm.

“Let go!” answered the youth and tried to break away.  But Cuffer came to Shelley’s assistance, and between them the two men dragged the boy into the room and shut the door after him.  Dick struggled vigorously even when in the apartment until Cuffer caught up an empty water pitcher and flourished it over his head.

“Make another move and I’ll knock you senseless with this!” he exclaimed and the look on his face showed he meant what he said.  Seeing his captors were too powerful for him, Dick subsided and was forced into a chair in a corner.

“Been listening to all our talk, I suppose,” said Cuffer, uglily.  He was angry to think that Dick had been able to follow him after all.

“I have,” was the youth’s bold reply.  He felt nothing was to be gained by beating around the bush.

“It’s a nice business to be in!”

“It is better than the business you are in.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I do.  You fellows are in league with Sid Merrick, and you know what sort he is.”

“See here,” interrupted Shelley.  “Now we have him in here, what are we going to do with him?”

“You are going to let me out,” said Dick.

“Perhaps we are,” said Cuffer, and gave Shelley a significant look.

“Let us see if he’s got any papers with him,” suggested Shelley, and returned the look given to him by his companion.

The look meant that they would go through Dick’s pockets and rob him.  The men were thorough rascals and if the youth had anything worth taking they meant to have it.

“You keep out of my pockets!” cried Dick and started to rise from the chair in which he was sitting.  Instantly both men grabbed him, and while Cuffer held him tightly from the rear, Shelley caught up a towel and gagged him.  Then a bed sheet was used to tie Dick inside of a closet in a corner of the room.

“Listen, I think somebody is coming!” cried Cuffer, in sudden alarm.