ed back in triumph to where, torch in hand, stood Lilla gazing
anxiously along the dark tunnel, and ready to give a joyous cry as she
saw our safe return.

I sent Tom to relieve my uncle's guard, and he hurried excitedly to my
side and helped me to unload.

"Harry, my boy," he exclaimed huskily as we lifted the packages on to
the rocks, "I can hardly believe it. Is it true?"

I smiled in his face, and then with more rope we bound the packages
securely before leaving them to drain off the water.

Our next act was to carefully take the raft to pieces and save the bands
by which it was secured. This was no easy task, for the water had
saturated and tightened the fastenings, which we did not cut, because
they would be extremely valuable in fastening it together again.

It proved to be a very, very long job, but we worked at it with all our
might, knowing as we did that our future depended upon our getting the
pieces of our pontoon safely with us to some stream, where we could fit
it once more together and use it to help in floating down to a place of
refuge.

"It's a rum job, Mas'r Harry," said Tom. "My word, if these knots
weren't well tied! I never thought about having to undo it over again."

"Never mind, Tom; work away," I cried.

"Oh! Ah! I'll work away," he replied. "That's better! That's one of
'em. They won't bear the lot, Mas'r Harry, when we fits it together
again?"

"If the raft is not strong enough, Tom, we must make it stronger," I
said; and he gave a grunt and worked away, tugging at the knots and very
often using his teeth.

At last, though, we had all the ties secured together in a bunch ready
for immediate use--the poles bound in small bundles, and the skins
fastened together by their necks, they having the advantage of being
very light.

Then followed a pause for rest and refreshment, with a short
consultation between my uncle and me as to our plans, which resulted in
a busy hour at work, two of the mules being laden then with the gold.

This was a very difficult task, as the packages were so awkward and
heavy, the object being to make them secure against any antic on the
part of the mules if they became restive, and also to guard against the
corners of the plates rubbing the animals' backs.

"I'd give anything to open those bags, Harry," said my uncle. "I feel
as curious as a boy."

"Take my word for it, Uncle," I replied, "that they are wonderful
treasures. Come, I'll make a