Part 39 (1/2)

”That I didn't,” growled the old fellow. ”It was that brute bit at my helmet. Has he made any marks?”

”Yes,” said Mr Parkley, lifting up the bright copper headpiece, and examining the couple of curves of sharply defined scratches which had been made by the monster's teeth.

”Then you should have left me alone,” growled Rasp. ”I should have killed that chap if I could have got my knife out of the sheath.”

”And could you not?” said Dutch.

”No. It's a sticking fast in the sheath there, and--. Who's took it out?” he growled, feeling his side. ”Why, I must ha' dropped it.”

The bright blade could be seen lying below, and Rasp stood grumbling and wondering how it could have happened, ending with whispering to Dutch.

”I ain't afeard on the beggars, but don't let out as I was took aback.

I worn't ready, you know; that's how it was.”

Dutch nodded a.s.sent, and the subject dropped, for Rasp pulled a couple of large and two small lumps of sh.e.l.ly matter from his pocket, the weight of which instantly told Mr Parkley that they were ingots in the same condition as the first.

There was no doubt now about the treasure having been found, and the question discussed was whether it would be better to try and get rid of the sand by blasting, or try the slower and more laborious plan of digging it away.

This last was decided on, especially as, by blasting away the sand, the silver ingots to a great extent might be cast away with the covering.

Besides which, the position of the schooner was so satisfactory that the captain was averse to its being moved, and wished, if possible, to retain it where it was. Tackle was rigged up, then, with iron buckets attached to ropes, and the afternoon was spent by Dutch and Rasp in turn in filling the buckets, which were then drawn up by the sailors and emptied beyond the ribs of the old galleon.

The filling of the buckets resulted in the discovery of many ingots, which were placed aside, and at last, after several descents, a portion of the treasure was reached, and instead of sending up sand, the buckets were filled with silver and the rough sh.e.l.ly concrete, though every ingot as they worked lower was more free from the adhesion, till the lower ones were almost literally blackened silver covered with sand.

Worn out with fatigue the task was at last set aside for the day, and in honour of their great success, 'Pollo's best endeavours had been called into question to prepare what was quite a banquet, during which Mr Parkley was congratulated by his friends in turn, and afterwards, when seated in the comparative cool of the evening, the question was discussed as to there being any risk attending their proceedings.

”I don't suppose we are right from some points of view,” said Mr Parkley, gaily. ”But let's secure all the treasure, and we'll talk about that afterwards. We shall give you a rich cargo, Studwick.”

”I hope so,” was the reply, ”but you'll have to go on for many days at this rate before I am overloaded.”

”Wait a bit, eh, Dutch Pugh. I think we shall astonish him yet. Come, a gla.s.s of champagne, man. You are low with your accident. What are you dreaming about?”

”I was wondering,” said Dutch, quietly, ”whether we ought not to take more precautions.”

”What about? Indians ash.o.r.e?”

”No; sailors afloat.”

”Quite right,” said the captain.

”What do you mean?”

”I mean,” said Dutch, ”that we must not excite the cupidity of these men by letting them see too much of the treasure, or mischief may follow.

There are several fellows here whose looks I don't like.”

”Don't invent bugbears, Pugh,” said Mr Parkley, gaily. ”We can take care of what we find, for we have plenty of arms, and I doubt very much whether the men would risk their necks by entering into anything in the shape of a mutiny. What do you say to that, eh, Studwick? Am I not right?”

”I don't know what to say,” replied the captain. ”I must confess now that I had my misgivings about some of the men at the commencement of the voyage, and, though I have seen nothing to make me suspicious, the fact of having a large freight of silver on board with such a crew as we have does not tend to make me feel quite at ease.”