rsh after sunset, and
there he left us and our share of gold, and backed out on the same tide.
He made no promise; he swore no oath; he looked for no thanks; but to
Hugh, an armless man, and to me, an old cripple whom he could have flung
into the sea, he passed over wedge upon wedge, packet upon packet of gold
and dust of gold, and only ceased when we would take no more. As he
stooped from the rail to bid us farewell he stripped off his right-arm
bracelets and put them all on Hugh's left, and he kissed Hugh on the
cheek. I think when Thorkild of Borkum bade the rowers give way we were
near weeping. It is true that Witta was an heathen and a pirate; true it
is he held us by force many months in his ship, but I loved that
bow-legged, blue-eyed man for his great boldness, his cunning, his skill,
and, beyond all, for his simplicity.'

'Did he get home all right?' said Dan.

'I never knew. We saw him hoist sail under the moon-track and stand away.
I have prayed that he found his wife and the children.'

'And what did you do?'

'We waited on the Marsh till the day. Then I sat by the gold, all tied in
an old sail, while Hugh went to Pevensey, and De Aquila sent us horses.'

Sir Richard crossed hands on his sword-hilt, and stared down stream
through the soft warm shadows.

'A whole shipload of gold!' said Una, looking at the little _Golden Hind_.
'But I'm glad I didn't see the Devils.'

'I don't believe they were Devils,' Dan whispered back.

'Eh?' said Sir Richard. 'Witta's father warned him they were
unquestionable Devils. One must believe one's father, and not one's
children. What were my Devils, then?'

Dan flushed all over. 'I--I only thought,' he stammered; 'I've got a book
called _The Gorilla Hunters_--it's a continuation of _Coral Island_,
sir--and it says there that the gorillas (they're big monkeys, you know)
were always chewing iron up.'

'Not always,' said Una. 'Only twice.' They had been reading _The Gorilla
Hunters_ in the orchard.

'Well, anyhow, they always drummed on their chests, like Sir Richard's
did, before they went for people. And they built houses in trees, too.'

'Ha!' Sir Richard opened his eyes. 'Houses like flat nests did our Devils
make, where their imps lay and looked at us. I did not see them (I was
sick after the fight), but Witta told me and, lo, ye know it also?
Wonderful! Were our Devils only nest-building apes? Is there no sorcery
left in the world?'

'I don't know,' answered