d to do, keeping our word easily enough, as we did not
find it difficult to hold our tongues in the matter, considering the lot
there was for all hands to talk about concerning Sam's restoration to
life, after being supposed dead so long. Several of the hands, though,
persisted that they knew of the deception all along, and had not been
taken in by the ghost business; but this was all brag on their part, for
I am sure they thoroughly believed in it at the time, just the same as
Morris Jones and Hiram and I did--only Tom being in the secret from
first to last!

In the course of the next four days, all the hands working with a will,
even more energetically than they had done when dismantling her, the
_Denver City_ had her rigging up all ataunto again, while her graceful
yards were crossed, and most of her cargo got aboard, all ready to sail.

During this time, the skipper had said not a word about the treasure,
nor did he speak of sending up any one to fetch it; and so, as none of
us had been back to the cave since quitting it with the captain, after
the earthquake and our discovery of the hoard, Hiram and Tom, with Sam
and I, stole away late on the afternoon of the fourth day to see whether
the boxes were all right--Jan Steenbock being the only one of the
original party present when it was found who did not accompany us; but
he said he knew it would be unlucky, for him, at all events, and so he
preferred stopping away.

So it was that only we four went, though Jan came with us part of the
way from the ship, sitting down by the spring which had been the haunt
of the doves, to await our return.

Jan did not have to remain there long alone.

No sooner had we got to the cave than we found that the treacherous
skipper had anticipated and out-reached us; for, from the hurried look
we took, we could see that every single chest and box had been removed,
and that all were now probably stored in the captain's own cabin. No
doubt, too, by-and-by, he would swear that we had no hand in finding
them, whence, of course, it must follow from his reasoning, we were not
entitled to any share in the proceeds from the treasure!

This was a pretty state of things, each and all of us thought; and,
boiling with indignation, we rushed back to Jan to tell him the news.

But, we met with but sorry sympathy from him.

"You vas mooch bettaire off," he said stolidly--"mooch bettaire off
mitout ze accursed stoof! It vas bringt harm to Cap'e