Treasure of Matecumbe Page #5

But I have no better

prospects at the moment.

Doctor, how about throwing in

with us, with Davie's approval?

Sure.

Oh, ten years ago I would

have seized the chance,

but, no, I...

I simply cannot ignore

the call of those...

...poor unfortunates along the river.

And you think our

chances are pretty slim.

The boys and I'll stick with

you as far as New Orleans.

- If that's all right.

- My pleasure.

Then we'll head for

Tampa and outfit ourselves

for the final leg to Whitewater Cove.

Frankly, Mr. Bernie, I think

that you're courting disaster.

Even if you find that treasure,

Spangler will take it away from you

and he'll kill you all into the bargain.

There's no law down in

those swamps, you know.

People just disappear and

never are heard from again.

To hear Davie talk, you

could part these waters

and we could go the rest

of the way by carriage.

Not that for a moment

I'd even consider it,

it's just I'm curious why you

didn't ask me to go along to...

this... Matecumbe?

I just thought you'd be out of place.

You have strong feelings

about a woman's place?

No offence, ma'am, but in

my opinion it's at home.

In my experience, ladies of your

station are unsurpassed at parlor talk.

I've rarely seen anything as

attractive as a bevy of you at a ball.

And I'm sure you could snap

a fan with the best of 'em.

All that would just go to waste

in the swamps, wouldn't you say?

I'll say good day, Mr... Bernie?

Just call me Jim.

What are you gonna do with

your share of the money, Thad?

Well, I always wanted a mule of my own.

Like that one back in Coahoma.

Or maybe one of those three-bladed

knives in Mr. Butler's window.

You could also buy a new

life with that money, Thad.

- How do you buy a new life?

- Through knowledge.

Learning. It's learning, you

see, that'll really set you free.

Learn all you can about everything

and it'll open up new horizons for you.

There's a landing round the bend.

They're few and far

between on this stretch.

I always stop here for provisions.

Fine, Doc.

Mr. Bernie, I've thrown

together some mullet puree.

I wonder if I could take a moment

of your time for your expert opinion.

Davie, give Miss Paxton's fixings a try.

If it passes muster with Davie,

you'll know it's a success.

I'll take the tiller, Bernie. Thank you.

Mind if we tie on? Won't be a minute.

You boys wanna stretch your legs?

No, thanks.

Much obliged.

Gentlemen.

Well, good...

"Music hath charms to

soothe a savage breast. "

- Who said that?

- William Congreve.

1670 to 1729.

Come on, Thad. Remember

what we practiced?

Come on, Davie.

Get along there.

Nice.

Hey, Curly!

Get that screech box of yours going.

Let's show 'em how it's really done!

Hey, looky there, looky

there! A real live female!

Why, you didn't tell me

you were having a party.

These are flatboat men, and no

one to fool with. You get inside.

- Hold it! Hold it!

- May I have the pleasure, ma'am?

- Why, how exciting.

It's been years since

I've been to a ball.

Whoo!

- I forgot my fan.

- No.

Thad, Davie.

When I give word, release the lines.

Right.

Thad, take the bow.

Oh, you want to waltz, do you?

Now, boys!

Jump!

Jump!

Miss Lauriette...

Puree's burning.

Davie.

- Hey, Davie.

- Yeah.

- Wanna try for some catfish?

- No.

Are you in love with Miss Paxton, Davie?

Heck, no. That's the

dumbest thing I ever heard.

I think she might be in love with you.

What makes you think that?

Remember the way she

hugged you at Friars Point?

She hugged you a long time.

I didn't wanna hurt her feelings.

That's why I let her hang on to me.

I know a way how you could find

out if she really loves you.

How?

If you put a girl's hand in

water when she's sleeping,

she'll tell you the

name of her sweetheart.

That has gotta be the

dumbest thing I ever heard.

She's napping now. We

could find out easy.

Let's get a pan.

By the shore, Captain.

- It's them.

- You see the kid?

Nobody's on deck.

It's that quack medicine man's boat.

- Hold your speed!

- Yes, sir!

They won't get away this time.

Hold your speed.

Listen close. She's

gonna say it real softly.

Sinking! We're sinking!

We're sinking! We're sinking!

What do you think you're

doing? I'm soaking!

Thad! Davie! Oh, what...! Oh, you...!

Thad. Davie! I'll suffer

the both of you kids.

You are the most powerful aggravating

kids I ever saw. Come here. Come here.

Something's stirred 'em up.

Tell me what you think you were

doing in there with that water.

- What's going on?

- Nothing!

Nothing? Look at me!

They tried to drown me in my sleep.

We didn't. We just spilled

a little water, that's all.

What's that steamboat coming straight

towards us? Davie, get me my spyglass.

In there. Thank you.

It wouldn't be Spangler,

by any chance, would it?

- It's him!

- They'll be on us in a minute. Come on.

Open fire!

Spread out. Search everywhere.

Can you run a steamboat?

Can I run a steamboat?

What's he doing?

This way, boys! Run!

Over here!

To the boat. Come on. Come on!

Don't keep looking back, lad.

They'll be on us soon enough.

Come on, come on. Come on.

Go on, help the lady. Hurry now, boys.

We're taking the other

boat. It's faster. Come on.

I'll be with you in a minute. No, no,

Thad. Leave it to me. Go on, quickly.

- Come on, Dr. Snodgrass!

- What are you doing?

- Sorry.

- Hurry, Doctor. Hurry.

All right, shove off. Come on.

Off we go. I'll help you with that.

You sure you know how to run this thing?

I haven't the vaguest idea. Never

tried. You're on your own. Take it away.

- What about Jim?

- We have no choice.

No! You can't just leave him there!

It was his decision. Now

let's get this vessel underway.

What about this one,

Doctor? Maybe it's this one.

No, no, no, no.

If this thing goes backward,

it'll also go for...

Don't crowd me! I'll apologize later on.

I can't be bothered. I've

got to get this thing...

Oh, confounded steam.

Ah. It isn't that. Could it be this?

Hold it.

Come on.

- It's perfectly all right.

- Surely they heard that.

Ah. Ah! We're going forward!

Look out. Take cover.

Spangler and his merry men.

To the keelboat!

Uncle Jim.

Come on, baby. Yeah!

There's no trace of him anywhere.

It's difficult, I know, but I

think we must conclude that...

...Jim Bernie is dead.

Needless to say, we all owe

him a great debt of gratitude.

Oh, I'm arranging for

a passage for the boys

on the first passenger ship going north.

Once home, put yourselves in the

hands of the local authorities

until such a time as...

...as Spangler and his villainous

cohorts are brought to justice.

He's right.

Davie, I believe you have something.

It belongs to you and I

wish to see you have it.

But you really must go home.

Two lives have been sacrificed already,

and the menace of

Spangler is ever present.

Let it go, boy.

I'm not going back.

- You still wanna go, Thad?

- If you do.

We'll be all right.

Thank you, Dr. Snodgrass.

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