Part 19 (1/2)

Pierre came downstairs and opened the door Bill explained all that had happened, except about the treasure

”You going away!” cried Pierre ”It would be madness! You will only float about till another storm arises and you will be lost”

”You don't knoe can do,” answered Bill ”We shall probably be picked up by one of our shi+ps before we reach England; and, if not, we shall get on very well, provided the wind holds froales there's every chance of its doing that”

”I o,” said Pierre

”You would not keep us prisoners against our will,” said Bill, laughing, as if Pierre could only be in joke ”Come, call your ood-bye I haven'tto tell them, which I've a notion will be satisfactory”

Pierre went to his father and mother's and Jeannette's rooms, and soon roused them up They appeared so called out of their beds by the young Englishot

”We are going away,” replied Bill, ”but we could not go without again thanking you for all your kindness; and to show you that we are not ungrateful, I have to tell you how you can become a rich man in a few hours, without much trouble”

On this Bill described how they had found the sot and the da various exclamations which showed their surprise, mixed with no little doubt as to whether Bill had not been drea a fact, and offered, if Captain Turgot and Pierre would accoht that there would be tiht, when he and Jack had deter the truth,” cried Jeannette; ”and it's very kind and generous of you, Bill, to tell us of the treasure, when you ht have carried it off yourself I know of the cave, for I saw it once, when I was very nearly caught by the tide and drowned, though I don't think many people about here are acquainted with it; and very few, if any, have gone into the interior”

Captain Turgot and Pierre confessed that they had never seen it, though they had gone up and down the coast so often; but then, on account of the rocks, they had always kept a good distance out

At last Bill and Jeannette persuaded the the hour, they came to the conclusion that the tide would come in before they couldwhen the tide had again et on board the vessel, if he was deterold, you could purchase a good boat,” said Captain Turgot; ”and that would be e on a raft”

Bill acknowledged that suchto risk any further delay He trusted to his friends' honour to let hio as he had determined He had come of his own accord to bid the hiainst his will

The fact, however, was that Captain Turgot doubted very lers possessed a hiding-place on that part of the coast, he thought that he should have known it, and he fancied that the young Englishman must in soold you speak of?” he asked ”You surely must have secured some for yourself”

Bill replied that Jack had, but that he had not wished to touch it

”Then you give it to us, ot; ”where is the difference?”

”No! I only tell you of it, that you ht If you find out the owners, I hope you will restore it to them; but, at all events, it's Frenchht to it than I have”

Captain Turgot did not quite understand Bill's principles, though perhaps Jeannette and Pierre did

”Well, well, o you must, I will not detain you

You and your co your lives, and I wish you would remain with us To-morrow, as soon as the tide is out, Pierre and I will visit the cavern, which, I think, from your description, we can find; and ill take lanterns and torches Again I say I wish you would wait, and if there is a prize to be obtained, that you would share it with us”

Jeannette and Pierre also pressed Bill to re Jack, and setting off at once