CHAPTER XXVI
Untold Wealth
By the glare of the smoking torches I saw that we were in a vastcavern, the walls of which were smooth and fairly regular on bothsides, although the extent of the place was hidden by a darknesswhich the flaring lights failed to penetrate. In the distance Iheard the splashing of a torrent of water, but as the floor of thecave was covered to a depth of about six inches with dry dust, thestream must have found an outlet at a lower level.
Led by Captain Jeremy, who strode along rapidly, with the confidenceof a man who was well acquainted with the place, we traversed somefifty yards of gradually shelving floor, till the torchlightflickered on several ghastly objects that were lying about invarious positions. There were rusty steel morions, breast-plates,and buff leather coats, each complete suit containing a grislyskeleton; while scattered around were arquebuses, muskets, pikes,swords, and pistols.
"Good heavens!" exclaimed one of our men in an awestruck tone."Starved to death!"
"Nay," replied Captain Jeremy, "they fought among themselves. Thesewere the survivors of the wreck of the _Madre de Dios_. Consumedwith the lust for gold, they exterminated each other, or, at least,if any escaped the combat they never left the island."
A few steps farther, and we beheld a pile of casks standing breasthigh. Plunging his hand into the nearest, Captain Jeremy drew out abrick-shaped object, and, knocking it against the side of the caskto remove a thick deposit of dust, revealed a piece of dull-colouredmetal. It was gold!
Regardless of their gruesome surroundings, the men burst into acontinuous roar of cheering, and like delighted children flungthemselves upon the casks.
Vessels, plate, bars of gold, and coins were disclosed to our view,till the floor was littered with dull red metal, mingled withtarnished silver.
'Twas the much-sought-for treasure of the _Madre de Dios_.
"Pass the word for more torches," exclaimed Captain Jeremy, whoalone seemed unmoved by this vast display of wealth, "and bid themen bring with them the canvas sacks. Hasten, for we must needs getclear of this place ere night." When at length some semblance oforder was restored, the work of loading the treasure was begun andcarried on till, staggering under the weight of seventeen heavysacks, the seamen gained the open air.
"Shall we do anything with these, sir?" asked one of the men,pointing to the skeletons of the ill-fated members of the crew ofthe _Madre_.
"Nay; they have guarded the treasure so far, let them sleep on inpeace," replied Captain Jeremy softly, as, stooping down, he pickedup a rapier of exquisite workmanship.
I did likewise, wondering at the contrast betwixt the bright steelblades and the rusty armour.
"Their mail was tarnished by exposure ere they died," repliedCaptain Jeremy, in answer to my question. "The air is so dry withinthe cave that rust is almost impossible. Were it not for thetreasure having been submerged in the sea, we would have beenwell-nigh blinded by its glister."
Meanwhile the seamen were busily employed in cutting stout poles ofabout six feet in length. Over these the sacks were slung, each poleresting on the shoulders of two men.
Captain Miles gave the order to march, and within a couple of hoursfrom the time of our arrival the whole of the _Madre_ treasure wason its way to the ship.
Yet, so heavy were the burdens and so difficult the path, it wasnearly sunset ere we reached the place where we had camped theprevious night.
Here we found the barrows quite undisturbed, so with feelings ofrelief the elated men prepared to spend another night in the open.
The treasure was stacked in the centre of a ring of sleeping men,while double guards were set, Captain Jeremy himself keeping watchthroughout the long night. Hunger and sleeplessness seemed strangersto him, yet it was anxiety, not highness of spirits, that kept himawake.
"Are you not glad that the treasure is found, sir?" I asked.
"Glad, aye, that I am; but I'll not feel satisfied till I have thestuff safe and sound in Poole Harbour. Mark my words, the mostanxious time is yet to come."
Shortly after midnight the camp was aroused by a musket shot, andall hands, standing to their arms, prepared to resist an attack,though by whom we knew not. But it turned out to be a false alarm,for one of the seamen, being overexcited with the events of the day,had unwittingly fingered the trigger of his piece.
Nevertheless, few of us had much sleep that night, and with thefirst sight of dawn the march was resumed.
The greater part of the path now being downhill, we made far morerapid progress than on the outward journey, in spite of the load oftreasure; and late in the afternoon we reached the brow of the hilloverlooking the harbour where the _Golden Hope_ and her consort lay.
Captain Jeremy thereupon ordered three musket shots to be fired inthe air--the pre-arranged signal of success. Instantly a crowd ofmen issued from the stockade, and with shouts and much waving ofarms rushed to meet us. The ships, too, hoisted their colours to themastheads, while the _Golden Hope_ fired seven guns by way of asalute.
Willing hands seized the heavily laden barrows, and with a rush theywere run down the hill, across the flat plain, and into thestockade, while Captain 'Enery and our leader exchangedcongratulations and eager questions.
"Any news?" asked Captain Jeremy anxiously.
"None; all is quiet on both vessels."
Having entered the stockade, Captain Jeremy immediately gave ordersfor the spoil to be carried into the storehouse, and, having pickedout four tried men, he set them, under the superintendence ofCaptain 'Enery, to load up the stout chests that had previously beenprepared.
"Men," he exclaimed to the rest of the crews, "the treasure is, asyou know, found." Here the bursts of cheering interrupted furtherspeech for a space of nearly two minutes, but when order was atlength restored Captain Jeremy continued: "Ere night I hope to havethe whole of these chests safely aboard the _Neptune_. It will meanmuch labour, but I know you'll work with a will. This done, I wantall hands, save a sufficient guard on both brigs, to repair to thestockade, and we'll have a right good carouse on the strength of oursuccess. There are several casks of spirits aboard the _GoldenHope_, and sink me if I be niggardly in this matter."
Renewed cheering greeted this announcement, though, knowing thatCaptain Jeremy was not a man to encourage a carouse, I wondered athis action, especially at such a time, when there was danger from aknown mutinous party in our midst.
"Number one ready, sir," announced one of the men from the door ofthe storehouse.
THE TREASURE OF THE "MADRE DE DIOS"]
"Then out with it," replied the Captain, and as the bulky chestappeared, carefully nailed and corded, it was seized upon by a gangof lusty seamen and conveyed to the water's edge, where a boat waslying in readiness to take it to the _Neptune_. Seven othersfollowed before Captain 'Enery and the men, all looking warm withtheir exertions, emerged from the storehouse, and the door wascarefully locked.
"Now to set the watches on board both vessels," said Captain Jeremy;then in an aside to Captain 'Enery, though loud enough for me tohear, "Are our men ashore? Good! Now to settle with the rogues."
"Master Hammond, will you go and warn the crews of both vessels tomuster ashore to-night? The exceptions are named on this list," hecontinued, slipping a paper into my hands. "They are to remain onboard and keep a careful watch. Warn them on the _Neptune_ of theprecious nature of their trust."
I made my way to the shore, where a boat conveyed me to the _GoldenHope_. Then, having delivered Captain Jeremy's orders and detailedthe watch party, I proceeded aboard the _Neptune_.
Here I was met at the gangway by Tompkins, the quartermaster, whomwe knew to be one of the malcontents.
"Master Clemens is sick, sir," he reported, "and desires permissionto be taken ashore."
"Let him go, by all means," I replied. "What's amiss?"
"I know not," answered the man, "though it seems of the nature of anague."
Having had the crew mustered, I repeated Captain Jeremy's orders,and p
roceeded to read the names of the men who were to remain. Therewere sixteen of the latter, being five more than the watch on boardthe _Golden Hope_, and as I called the names their bearers replied,"Here, sir."
"Gadd--Jonathan Gadd?"
No answer.
"Jonathan Gadd," I repeated; "where is he?"
No one seemed to know.
"Beck, William?"
He, too, was absent, cause unknown.
So were two others, Wood and Hoit; it could only be by design, forthere were only the malcontents of the crew remaining on board the_Neptune_. And under the charge of these rascals were the eighttreasure chests.