The friends separated, Harry¹ Marton going to the bay with the augmented² pearling fleet, Jack³ and Barry Tuxford journeying to Sydney by one of the mail steamers, taking Lucky Boy with them. Before following their fortunes in New South Wales it will be interesting to learn how Amos Hooker managed to secure the black pearl.  
When they reached the shore from the schooner⁴ "Heron," Amos kept good control over his temper and said no more about the pearl to Kylis. He was anxious to see the "Heron" leave the bay without the loss being discovered. He thought it better to remain on shore and not return to the boat.
 
The following morning he looked across the bay from his tent, and saw the "Heron" had put out to sea. This suited his purpose, and he set out to hunt up the blacks, putting a revolver in his pocket in case it was wanted. Amos Hooker had risked his own life too often to have much regard for the lives of others, and shooting an odd black or two would not trouble his conscience. Kylis and Miah were useful to him, and he had no wish to harm them, but he meant having the black pearl, and at his own price. The divers⁵ had a good trip and were paid well, he got them the job, and it was only fair he should have the pearl.
 
Kylis saw him coming, and prepared for a row, he knew Amos feared him more than any other man, but possession of the black pearl was much in his favour; he said to himself he would smash it sooner than let Amos have it for a mere⁶ trifle.
 
"The schooner has gone," said Amos. "They have not discovered the loss of the pearl."
 
"They may put back when they do," replied Kylis.
 
"No fear of that, they are not certain we have it."
 
"They can form a good idea," said Miah.
 
"Look here," replied Amos, "you had better dry up, you are out of this deal."
 
"Am I, ask him?" he said, pointing to Kylis, "we talked it over during the night, and I am to have my share."
 
"It won't be a large cut in," replied Amos.
 
"If you are fair and square, you shall have it," said Kylis. "I want some money down, and more when it is sold."
 
"How much do you want?"
 
"Twenty pounds each," said Kylis.
 
Amos swore they should have no such sum. "Forty pounds!" he exclaimed, "I may not get that for the pearl."
 
"You'll get a big lump for it," said Kylis.
 
"Hand it over and let me look at it."
 
The black laughed, and shook his head.
 
"Where is it?" asked Amos.
 
"Safe, you cannot find it."
 
"I have not come here to kick up a row, but I mean to handle that pearl; if you do not give it me I'll drive you out of the settlement; I can easily do it, most of them would rather have your room than your company."
 
"Much good it would do you," replied Kylis, "because the pearl would go with us."
 
"Will you hand it over?"
 
"For twenty pounds each, and twenty more when you sell it."
 
"I'll not give it. Hand it over," said Amos, savagely⁷, drawing his revolver.
 
"If you shoot you will never find it," said Kylis.
 
Amos levelled the weapon at him, and Miah slunk back to the other side of the tent.
 
Kylis did not quail⁸, he was certain Amos would not shoot.
 
"If you don't put the revolver down I'll smash the pearl," said the black.
 
Amos lowered it and said, with an evil scowl—
 
"I have not so much money, I cannot give it you now. Listen to me. You cannot sell the pearl, I can, what is the good of keeping it?"
 
Kylis knew this was correct. Amos had a far better chance of disposing of it than they had.
 
"What will you give us?" asked Kylis.
 
"Ten pounds each, and twenty pounds each if I sell it for a good price."
 
Kylis called to Miah, who told him to take it.
 
They agreed to this, and Amos Hooker went to get the money, well satisfied with his bargain, for he had no intention of giving them any more money when he sold it.
 
When Amos left the tent Kylis said—
 
"We'll let him have it, I can get it back again."
 
"How?"
 
"Never mind. I'll have it or——"
 
"What?"
 
"I'll have his life. He's a brute⁹."
 
Miah shivered, he knew Kylis would be as good as his word.
 
Amos came back with the money in gold, and placed it on a box.
 
"Now give me the pearl," he said. Kylis handed it to him, and snatched up the money.
 
Amos Hooker looked at the pearl for some time; he was surprised at its size and purity, he had never seen one like it before, it would be difficult to dispose of.
 
There was one man he might get a fair price from, Silas Filey, but he hardly knew how to approach him. Silas was acquainted with some of his past life and could make things very unpleasant for him if he chose.
 
He left the tent with the pearl, satisfied that he had in his possession a gem¹⁰ worth a thousand pounds at least. If he only ventured to Fremantle with it and offered it for open sale he would get much more; this, however, he dare not do.
 
How to communicate with Silas, that was the difficulty. He puzzled his brains to think how it could be done. Should he send a man from Shark's Bay to see him? There was no one he dare trust on such an errand, for although he was recognised as "the boss," he was more hated than feared, and there were none who would neglect an opportunity of benefiting themselves at his expense.
 
Some weeks went by, and he still had the pearl safely hidden away, and even Kylis had not been able to discover where it was concealed¹¹. Schooners¹² from Fremantle often put into Shark's Bay, and one evening the "Swan" sailed in and anchored.
 
A boat came ashore¹³ from her, and a man inquired for Amos Hooker, and handed him a letter.
 
It was from Silas Filey, and he read it with difficulty. When he had fully¹⁴ understood its contents he flew into a furious passion. Silas had taken the bull by the horns with a vengeance¹⁵, he knew his man and wrote accordingly. Had Barry Tuxford been at his elbow he might have gone about it in a different way, but it would not have proved so effective.
 
The letter stated clearly that he, Silas Filey, had definite information that ............