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is.’ Stirk pushed out a fist, leaving the coin gleaming on the rough table.
    Kydd shielded his hand as he palmed it up, looked at it closely, then passed it back.
    â€˜Well?’ Stirk demanded, with a frown.
    â€˜Laddie, where did you get this?’
    â€˜Never mind. What is it, f ’r God’s sake?’
    â€˜No question. This is a gold doubloon, dates back a ways, time of Good Queen Bess, I shouldn’t wonder.’
    â€˜Spanish Armada, like.’
    â€˜You could say that, yes.’
    Stirk and McFadden exchanged triumphant glances. ‘Well, that’s right good in ye t’ tip us the wink. We’s obliged.’
    Kydd’s face tightened in suspicion. ‘You’ve found this, haven’t you? Came up in your fishing gear. A wreck or similar.’
    â€˜Told ye he was a sharp ’un,’ Stirk muttered.
    â€˜Your duty’s clear – it’s to report to the Receiver of Wreck directly, no delay. Else you’ll have every kind of juggins up to hookum snivey to plunder it.’
    â€˜I never said it come from a piggin’ wreck, did I?’ McFadden retorted hotly. ‘’S mine, an’ that’s the truth!’
    â€˜Stow it, Laddie. It came from y’r poor ole aunt as died, didn’t it? No need t’ trouble that Receiver gullion then.’

Chapter 9

    N ext morning the inaugural meeting of the Dunlochry Treasure Company took place, Tobias Stirk in the chair and secretary Brian McFadden recording. There being no others present they came quickly to the business before the meeting.
    â€˜Equal shares – equal rhino,’ Stirk stated. ‘All them in favour?’
    â€˜If it means if a cove puts in more pewter an’ he gets back more’n the other’s share o’ the cobbs, I’m agin it!’
    â€˜No, mate. Chair says as we all puts in the same. Them as hangs back loses their share.’
    â€˜How much—’
    â€˜I’ve a bit put by, if ’n you’s short. Now we votes. All in favour?’
    â€˜Aye.’
    â€˜Carried. So y’r boat comes in wi’
Maid o’ Lorne
. Rest of it is—’
    â€˜Hold, y’ scallywag. If your boat’s in that means Jeb Stirk has t’ be in on it too. Can’t sail her else. Does he get shares?’
    â€˜Does yourn Wee Laurie get shares? No, cully. Boat ’n’ crew all the same – one share.’
    Chair then called an intermission. After pots had been duly refreshed the meeting came to order.
    â€˜So what’s next up?’
    â€˜We go get the treasure!’
    â€˜Not s’ fast, Toby! If we goes and—’
    â€˜It’s Mr Chair.’
    â€˜Bugger Mr Chair! I’m sayin’ as how I stand t’ lose everything once ye sees where it is. What’s to stop ye crackin’ on one night an’ liftin’ it all for y’r self?’
    â€˜Ye’re a chuckle-headed ninny, Laddie, but you’ve a fine heart. If ’n that was m’ lay I could’ve asked y’r little skinker where ye went that had a wreck in a cave, right? We got to be in it as muckers or we’ll get nothin’, savvy?’

Chapter 10

    E arly the following day two fishing boats hoisted their red sails and left Dunlochry, heading south-west past the holy island of Iona as if making for the rising shoals of mackerel in the open sea.
    Aboard
Aileen G
and
Maid
, however, there was unrestrained glee, for in a few hours they could be as rich as barons. Both Jeb and Wee Laurie had been told their mission only once they were out, their silence secured by the strictest oaths and the certain promise that if any blathered a word they would end up with nothing.
    When they were well out to sea and the horizon innocent of land, they bore up for Tiree, to its remote south-west tip, passing inside the long, menacing black reefs of the Skerryvore to reach the end of the island. Even in the glory of the early-morning sun