g whatever to
her about my suspicions.

O'Gorman and his companions remained in the seclusion of their tents all
the morning, not one of them, excepting the cook, showing themselves
until after dinner. Then the Irishman and two hands appeared; and
presently they jumped into a boat and headed for the brig. I went to
the gangway to receive them--so that we might be out of ear-shot of Miss
Onslow, who was sitting in the after-end of her sleeping-tent, reading--
and, even before the boat got alongside, I could see, by the sober faces
of those in her, that something serious was the matter.

O'Gorman boarded the brig alone, leaving his two companions in the boat
alongside. I led him for'ard, and not until we had reached the fore
deck did either of us open our mouths. Then the Irishman, turning to me
with a very serious face, said:

"Misther Conyers, we want y'r help again, son."

"Very well," said I; "I shall be pleased to help you in any way
possible. What is it that you wish me to do?"

"We wish ye to divide up the threasure aiqually into fourteen parts, and
to give to aich man his own share, so that he may take care of it for
himself. As things are now, wid all the gims lumped together in the
iron chist, the timptation and the opporchunity to shteal is too great,
and we've already lost two of our number through it."

"Lost two of your number? Good Heavens, O'Gorman, what do you mean?" I
demanded, my thoughts instantly reverting to the suspicious proceedings
of the morning.

"Why," explained O'Gorman, "it's loike this, ye see. Whin we dug up
that chist yesterday, and got it over here, we could none of us be
satisfied until we'd broke it open and found out what it contained.
Then, as we couldn't fasten it up again, we decided to mount guard over
it, two men at a time, so that nobody should rob the others by sneakin'
away and helpin' himself unbeknownst. But whin the first two guards was
relieved, last night, the cook took it into his head that they ought to
be searched; and whin this was done, by the Powers! we found that aich
of 'em had helped himself to a handful of the stones, and had 'em stowed
away in their pockets. We thried 'em there and thin, found 'em guilty,
and sintenced 'em to be shot! Which was done this morning."

"So!" I exclaimed in horror, "this is the first result of your
so-called good fortune, is it? A theft; and two of your number slain!
Man! do you know that the fourteen of you ha