opened it, removed a few of the small-arms, and bade him look for
himself.

"Incredible! incredible!" he cried. "Is it possible! is it possible!
Well, to be sure!" And for some moments he could find no more to say, so
amazed and confounded was he.

I quickly showed him the gold and silver ingots and then returned the
firearms and locked the chests.

"_These_," said I emphatically, pointing to the cases, "have been my
difficulty; not the lading, though there is value there too. My crew
know nothing of these chests: of their value, I mean; they believe them
cases of small-arms. How am I to get them ashore? If I tell the truth,
they will be seized as piratical plunder. If I equivocate, I may tumble
into a pit of difficulties. I durst not carry them to the Thames, the
river swarms with thieves and Custom House people. I am terrified to
linger here, lest I be boarded and the booty discovered. There is but
one plan, I think: we must hire some Deal smugglers to run these chests
and the cargo for us. The boat now alongside might serve, and I don't
doubt the men are to be had at their own price."

My relative had regained his wits, which the sight of the treasure had
temporarily scattered, and surveyed me thoughtfully whilst I spoke; and
then said, "Let us return to the fire; I think I have a better scheme
than yours."

The men still sat around the table talking. Some liquor yet lay in one
of the bowls, and the fellows were happy enough. I smiled at Wilkinson
as I passed, that he might suppose our inspection below very
satisfactory, and I saw him look meaningly and pleasantly at Washington
Cromwell, who sat with a laced hat on his head.

"Paul," said Mason, sitting down and folding his arms, "your smuggling
plan will not do. It would be the height of madness to trust those
chests to the risks of running and to the honesty of the rogues engaged
in that business."

"What is to be done?"

"Tell me your lading," said he.

I gave it to him as accurately as I could.

"Why," he exclaimed, "a single boat would take a long time to discharge
ye--observe the perils--several boats would mean a large number of men;
they would eat you up; they would demand so much, you would have nothing
left. And suppose they opened the chests! No, your scheme is worthless."

"What's to do, then, in God's name?"

"I'll tell you!" he exclaimed, smiling with the complacency of a man who
is master of a great fancy. "I shall sail to Dover at once.