Part 35 (1/2)

”We haven't hit the right spot,” she said.

”I believe you're right,” agreed Ian. ”We've not struck cement even.”

”If only we had another pick,” sighed Minnie. ”We'd get on quicker.”

”What are they saying?” Ostap asked the priest.

”They are short of a pick.”

Despite protests he disappeared; whilst Ian was still measuring the paces, he came back, not with a pick but a spade. Ian, seeing the girls were exhausted with work and anxiety, asked him to use it.

”Ah--you trust me,” said the Cossack. ”I'll help with pleasure.”

They set to work again; silence holding the little group. Even the talkative Ostap did not speak.

”Cement!” Ian said suddenly.

He had said it so many times only to find stones that the others took no notice. However, he and Ostap plodded on--and at last Ian held up a small object.

”The thermos bottle,” he said, giving it to his mother.

In the dark she and the girls opened it, counting the black pearls.

They were intact.

”Work carefully now,” Ian warned Ostap. ”The rest are in waterproof packets--we shall miss them.”

”It's so dark,” complained the priest. ”Can't we use my electric torch?”

”Not if you want to be alive to-morrow,” said Ostap bluntly. ”Their sentries are watching.”

And they fumbled on. The moon had set long ago, so they worked very slowly. But at last, after feeling every clod of earth near where they found the thermos bottle, they came upon a waterproof packet. It contained Minnie's pearls.

”Only one more, Ostap,” said Ian. ”It was put near this. We sha'n't be long.”

In a few moments he found it; it held half of the famous Ruvno emeralds, worth many thousand roubles. Ostap did not ask what was in the packet, but remarked:

”Oh, G.o.d, it's wonderful how little room treasure takes up. Now do you all, ladies, secure them well about your persons; and we must be off.”

”Thank G.o.d, we have them at last,” said the Countess. ”We shall be able to keep the wolf from the door.” She spoke thus, afraid that he would have an idea of the treasure's real value. For she did not trust him yet. Hastily they put the pearls about their persons, while Ostap strolled a few paces away.

”And now for the lane,” said Ian. ”We'll find that easier.”

They had to make a big detour to reach it, for it was madness to go near the Prussians, as the Countess pointed out. Even as it was they heard the groans as some wounded men very near at hand. Once, Ian stumbled over a softish stiff body, in the darkness. He examined it as well as he could, fearing it might be one of his own household. But the dead man's helmet told its tale. They left it lying there, walking as silently as they could, Ian leading the way, because he knew every inch of the ground. Every now and again some noise from the Prussian camp made them stand still, in terror that they were discovered. But they were all false alarms. Many of von Senborn's men were in their last long sleep, and the rest so tired that it would have taken more noise than these poor waifs made on the gra.s.s to awake them. Their horror was great when they finally arrived at the top of the lane where Ian had buried the remainder of the emeralds and his mother's rings. It was blocked with the wreckage of his once prosperous stud farm.

”We're ruined,” whispered the Countess. ”None of us can get through that.”

”I'll get over,” said Ostap, when the situation was explained to him.

”But you must tell me where the treasure lies.”