o the stream, which
they crossed without difficulty, and then followed it down until they
reached the pool in which the first discovery of gold had been made.
Thence their way was tolerably easy--though, in the darkness which had
by this time closed down upon them, they went somewhat astray while
passing through the wood--and in another hour they found themselves once
more safely within the shelter of Staunton Cottage, thoroughly tired-out
with their long and adventurous day's ramble.

Their entrance was greeted with exclamations of mock horror at the
length to which they had spun out the day's ramble; but Blanche's pale
cheeks, draggled dress, and general "done-up" appearance speedily
apprised her friends that a _contre-temps_ of some kind had occurred;
and their jesting remarks were quickly exchanged for earnest and
sympathetic inquiries as to what had gone wrong. Whereupon Lance--
having first suggested to his late companion the advisability of
immediate retirement to her couch, and bespoken Mrs Staunton's kind
services in the preparation of a cup of tea for each of the tired-out
wanderers--proceeded to give a succinct account of their day's
adventure, the recital of which elicited frequent exclamations of
wonder, alarm, and admiration, the latter being vastly increased when he
produced his valuable specimens, to which he had resolutely "stuck"
through it all notwithstanding that their weight had proved a serious
encumbrance to him during his swim.

"Now," he said in conclusion, "the net result of the day's exploration
amounts to this. We have discovered a mine of incalculable wealth.
What are we to do in the matter? There is so much gold there--in the
cave, I mean--that a short period of resolute and well-directed labour
will enable us to collect sufficient not only to fully recoup the
underwriters for their loss through the burning of the _Galatea_, but
also to make every individual among us enormously rich. Are we to let
it lie there, and trust to the future for an opportunity to come back
and fetch it, or shall we make an effort now to collect what will
suffice us, and trust to chance for the opportunity to carry it off with
us when we go?"

In answer to this, everybody declared at once without hesitation their
opinion that an attempt ought to be made to collect and carry off the
gold with them; Captain Staunton very sensibly remarking that if
anything occurred to prevent the safe transport of their prize