Quite a year elapsed before the subject was broached again from a
business point of view. Mr Parkley had been a good deal disheartened
by his losses, and shook his head when Dutch suggested a second trip.
"No, no," he said; "no more chance."
"Suppose there is no chance in the matter," said Dutch, quietly; and he
then proceeded to tell of that which he had kept a secret in his own
breast ever since--to wit, of the rich treasure of gold he had found,
after the silver had been removed.
"Is this a fact, or some dream left by our troubles when coming home?"
said Mr Parkley, who looked at him in doubt.
"A fact," said Dutch; and he described exactly where the treasure lay.
"That's enough," exclaimed Mr Parkley. "I had made a vow that I would
never be tempted again; but I will this once, Dutch--this once, my lad."
He kept his word, and though Hester shivered at the idea, she saw her
husband's great desire for the trip, gave way, and prevailed upon him to
consent to take her.
For a time he held out, so painful were the recollections of the last
voyage; but on Captain Studwick taking the command of the vessel they
were to sail in once more, and the doctor and his newly-made wife
begging to accompany them, he agreed.
Rasp insisted upon going again, because Oakum was likely to interfere,
and Oakum insisted on being one of the party because old Rasp would be
there to meddle: where Sam Oakum went, 'Pollo was sure to be his
companion.
The result was that the vessel, well found and manned by a good crew,
sailed one day, made a rough but prosperous voyage to the Gulf of
Mexico, and there, in the placid weather they enjoyed, made first for
one of the sunken galleons, where, after the removal of the sand, and
the destruction of sundry sharks, so great a treasure in golden ingots
was brought to the surface and carefully stowed away as made Mr Parkley
propose that they should tempt fortune no further, but up anchor and go
back home.
Dutch, however, was of too manly a grit to go away without exploring the
other galleon, and, on this being reached, a second golden store was
rescued from the wave where it had been three hundred years--a treasure
large enough not only to recompense all past losses, but to make its
winners wealthy for life.
So far from any imaginary curse attending this voyage, it was
accomplished without difficulty, and home reached once more, with the
mysteriously won treasure, of which there was much talk, but little
information gained; for, saving what oozed out from the well-paid
sailors, nothing was known, Mr Parkley saying that perhaps one of the
Spanish States might put in a claim.
And so ended the eventful search for the gold and silver of the Spanish
galleons--wealth won by conquest by the filibustering followers of
Philip of Spain, but never enjoyed by them when dragged by torture from
the simple-hearted Peruvians, who had hidden it in the tropic sands.
What might have been its purpose had the treasure reached the Spanish
Court, who can tell? Suffice it that, as far as money could do so, it
made happy several English homes, not the least happy that of the man
who, with true penitence, sought in the rest of his career to recompense
the woman who had been the object of his doubts.
"Yes," said he, "I was mad, and bent on seeking treasure when I had a
greater one at home. Ah, Hester, love, I have gone down many times, and
have found strange things, but I shall never reach to the bottom of your
heart, or gather all its most secret depths of love, so long as I am
what I am, _Dutch the Diver_."