stepped upon. I did not like to be beaten, however,
but soon found that, without poles to assist us, we should never make
any progress; so we contented ourselves with a walk round the peak--
which I now felt convinced was the crater of a quiescent if not extinct
volcano--and a leisurely survey of the magnificent panorama that lay
spread out beneath us. By the simple process of walking round the peak
we obtained a view of the entire island, with its lagoon and barrier
reef; and so clear and pure was the atmosphere that we could not only
see but also identify every member of the working-party. They were
still digging vigorously; but even as we watched them there arose a
sudden commotion and an excited rushing together among them, and a
second or two later the sound of their voices reached us; but although
it was perfectly evident that the speakers were powerfully excited, we
were too far distant from them to distinguish what was said; and
presently work was resumed for about ten minutes, at the expiration of
which several men leaped down into the excavation, and a minute or two
later we saw a not very bulky object lifted out of the hole and laid on
the surface of the ground, amid the frantic cheers of the entire party.

"The treasure!" I exclaimed. "They have found it, by Jove! And they
have not been very long about it, either. Well, I am sincerely glad and
thankful, for now we may hope soon to be homeward-bound, or at least
bound to some spot from which it will be possible for us to secure
passage to Calcutta."

I spoke with some enthusiasm; but my companion did not respond; she
remained silent, gazing dreamily into the far distance; and when I
looked at her, awaiting some answering remark, I saw that she was quite
pale, that she was biting her under-lip in a fruitless endeavour to stay
its quivering, and that there were undoubtedly tears in her eyes. She
averted her face quickly, but I was confident that I was not mistaken as
to those indications of emotion. Presently she spoke.

"I am glad," said she, "that you find cause for rejoicing in the
discovery that those wretches appear to have just made; and at first
sight it would almost seem as though your troubles should now be nearly
over. But I cannot forget that those men have been guilty of two very
serious offences--first in seizing the brig from you and compelling you
to navigate her to this lonely spot, and next in their act of piracy in
connection with