overhead, and
turned back.

There was no signal made; and, as it dwindled away in the west, Denman's
attention was attracted to the men surrounding the boxes; only Munson
was still watching the receding monoplane. But the rest were busy. With
hammers and cold chisels from the engine room they were opening the
boxes of treasure.

"Did any one see that fellow before?" demanded Munson, pointing to the
spot in the sky.

A few looked, and the others answered with oaths and commands: "Forget
it! Open the boxes! Let's have a look at the stuff!"

But Munson spoke again. "Forsythe, how about the big fellow's wireless?
We didn't disable it. He has sent the news already. What do you think?"

"Oh, shut up!" answered Forsythe, irately. "I didn't think of it.
Neither did any one. What of it? Nothing afloat can catch us. Open the
box. Let's have a look, and we'll beat it for Africa."

"I tell you," vociferated Munson, "that you'd better start now--at full
speed, too. That's a scout, and the mother boat isn't far away."

"Will you shut up, or will I shut you up?" shouted Forsythe.

"You'll not shut me up," retorted Munson. "You're the biggest fool in
this bunch, in spite of your bluff. Why don't you go ahead and get out
o' this neighborhood?"

A box cover yielded at this juncture, and Forsythe did not immediately
answer. Instead, with Munson himself, and Billings the cook--insanely
emitting whoops and yelps as he danced around for a peep--he joined the
others in tearing out excelsior from the box. Then the bare contents
came to view.

"Lead!" howled Riley, as he stood erect, heaving a few men back with his
shoulders. "Lead it is, if I know wan metal from another."

"Open them all," roared Forsythe. "Get the axes--pinch bars--anything."

"Start your engine!" yelled Munson; but he was not listened to.

With every implement that they could lay their hands on they attacked
the remaining boxes; and, as each in turn disclosed its contents, there
went up howls of disappointment and rage. "Lead!" they shouted at last.
"All lead! Was this job put up for us?"

"No," yelled Munson, "not for us. Every steamer carrying bullion also
carries lead in the same kind of boxes. I've read of it many a time.
It's a safeguard against piracy. We've been fooled--that's all."

Forsythe answered profanely and as coherently as his rage and excitement
would permit.

Munson replied by holding his fist under Forsythe's nose.

"Get up on the bri