Old Gold Part 60

"Well?"

"Suppose the Indians know of all these golden ornaments and things being here?"

"I don't suppose they do; but if they do, what then?"

"Suppose they came now in force and beat us off?"

"Ah, it would be awkward if they came now; but if they did there'd be a very ugly fight before we gave up our hold on what we've found."

"Yes; we couldn't give it up now."

"I say, what about the men?" said Briscoe.

"They must know, of course, and take their share of what we carry away."

"Oh!" groaned Briscoe, "and after finding what has been the dream of my life."

"What do you mean!" said Brace wonderingly.

"Why, we've only got those two boats and can't take much. Brace, my lad, do you think it would be possible to bring the brig up here?"

"Yes, perhaps we might if you could knock down those falls, and do away with all the shallow parts between here and there."

"Of course," said Briscoe, with another groan full of misery. "I forgot all that."

"I say," said Dellow, as they came within sight from the lower terrace once more, "something's happened while you've been away."

"What is it?" said the captain.

"Tide's turned, and the water's flowing steadily the other way."

"That means the flood's gone down then," said the captain. "Well, then, gentlemen, when you've got your images on board I suppose you'd like to be going back, for the stores are running very low."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

THE SLIPPERY TREASURE.

"Don't know that I am pleased," said Sir Humphrey, when his brother and Briscoe told him of the discovery; "but it is very wonderful, and I suppose we may claim the right to all we have found."

"Certainly," said Briscoe.

"Well, the first thing to be done is to acquaint the captain, Dellow, and Lynton."

"Of course," said Briscoe, "and the men must know."

"Does it not mean trouble?" said Brace. "I mean with the crew."

"No," replied Briscoe; "the skipper has them all well in hand now, and they must be given to understand that every man will take a share of the gold, according to his position. I vote we tell the skipper and mates at once."

Ten minutes later they were fully acquainted with the facts, and the captain screwed his face up tightly.

"Hah!" he said; "I never aimed at being rich, but I'm not going to quarrel with my luck."

"No," said Briscoe, "and I think we ought to take as much of it as we can carry with us."

"Well, gentlemen, it's a big find, and I suppose it means half a dozen journeys here to fetch it all to the brig."

"We cannot say yet," said Sir Humphrey; "but we ought to get all we can down to the brig at once."

"Yes," said Briscoe, "and leave Mr Brace and me here with a couple of men to guard the rest."

"No," said Sir Humphrey firmly; "we must keep together. I say: let's load the boats as far as is wise and get as much of the treasure as possible safely to the brig."

"And lose all there is left," said Briscoe.

"No," replied Brace. "This gold must have kept here in safety for at least a thousand years, so I daresay it will rest till we get back again."

"Look here, gentlemen," said the captain; "both these plans sound well, but we can settle which we'll try afterwards. I don't feel that we've got the treasure till the two boats have their loads packed in the bottoms like ballast, well covered with leaves. Let's get as much as we can, and then perhaps it might be well for part of us to stop while the others take down the first part."

"The captain is right," said Sir Humphrey: "we'll settle that afterwards: perhaps there is no more than we can take in one journey."

This was put to the proof the next morning, when the men, having cheered till they were hoa.r.s.e at the wondrous news, the party divided: one portion to make their way to the temple, the other to moor the two boats conveniently under the wall below, the captain and Dellow taking the latter duty, with a couple of men to stow, while as soon as Brace, Briscoe, Lynton, and the rest of the men appeared on the lower terrace communication was made with a block pulley and ropes ready for lowering the treasure, a couple of stout biscuit bags being taken from the stores for sending up and down.

Brace led the way into the temple, his heart throbbing with eagerness; and, lights having been set up in convenient spots, the threatening aspect of the inanimate guardians of the treasure was soon forgotten, and all set to work to sweep the dust from the ornaments upon the altar, and then to carry them out into the broad suns.h.i.+ne ready for lowering down.

A feeling of astonishment attacked Brace as he worked hard, and hardly a word was spoken, everyone busying himself and toiling as if there was not a moment to spare, and a whisper might bring someone to stop them from carrying the treasure away.

It was wonderful indeed, for after the thick coating of dust had been shaken off they found that they were handling roughly-formed lamps, figures of G.o.ds with benevolent features, those of savage and malignant-looking demons--in fact, what seemed to be the whole pantheon of the idols who might be supposed to preside over the good qualities and evil thoughts of mankind.

Most of them had been roughly cast in moulds and left untouched; but others had been hammered and chiselled with an archaic idea of art that was surprising.

Then there were ornaments which obviously suggested leaves and twining vines, with rayed flowers sufficiently well executed to show that they had been copied from such as the finders had seen growing on the ledges of the canon.

But unmistakeably all were of rich solid pale gold, bronzed and ruddy in places with the action of fire, and, setting aside their value as antique works of art, representing a cash value as gold that was almost startling.

Every now and then a figure was attacked and left standing on account of its weight and the party of toilers busy in the weird gloom of the temple paused at last as if half-stunned by the feeling that had come upon them after two men had tried to lift the seated figure of some deity.

"Yes, we can't take that," said Briscoe dismally. "We could carry it out, I daresay, but it would go through the bottom of the boat. We shall have to start that old furnace and melt these big things down."

Just then two of the men who been carrying a load out on to the terrace came back, bearing a message from the captain.

"He says, gentlemen," said one of the men, "that it will be as much as he dare take aboard when we've let down all we've got waiting outside."

"Nonsense!" cried Brace; "why, we have ever so much more to send out yet. We can't leave all these small things."

"How much weight do you think you have taken out, my lads?" said Sir Humphrey, who was working hard with the rest.