Untold Wealth
By the glare of the smoking torches I saw that we were in a vast
cavern, the walls of which were smooth and fairly regular on both
sides, although the extent of the place was hidden by a darkness
which the flaring lights failed to penetrate. In the distance I
heard the splashing of a torrent of water, but as the floor of the
cave was covered to a depth of about six inches with dry dust, the
stream must have found an outlet at a lower level.
Led by Captain Jeremy, who strode along rapidly, with the confidence
of a man who was well acquainted with the place, we traversed some
fifty yards of gradually shelving floor, till the torchlight
flickered on several ghastly objects that were lying about in
various positions. There were rusty steel morions, breast-plates,
and buff leather coats, each complete suit containing a grisly
skeleton; 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. These
were the survivors of the wreck of the _Madre de Dios_. Consumed
with 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 breast
high. Plunging his hand into the nearest, Captain Jeremy drew out a
brick-shaped object, and, knocking it against the side of the cask
to remove a thick deposit of dust, revealed a piece of dull-coloured
metal. It was gold!
Regardless of their gruesome surroundings, the men burst into a
continuous roar of cheering, and like delighted children flung
themselves 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 with
tarnished silver.
'Twas the much-sought-for treasure of the _Madre de Dios_.
"Pass the word for more torches," exclaimed Captain Jeremy, who
alone seemed unmoved by this vast display of wealth, "and bid the
men bring with them the canvas sacks. Hasten, for we must needs get
clear of this place ere night." When at length some semblance of
order was restored, the work of loading the treasure was begun and
carried on till, staggering under the weight of seventeen heavy
sacks, 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 of
the _Madre_.
"Nay; they have guarded the treasure so far, let them sleep on in
peace," replied Captain Jeremy softly, as, stooping down, he picked
up a rapier of exquisite workmanship.
I did likewise, wondering at the contrast betwixt the bright steel
blades and the rusty armour.
"Their mail was tarnished by exposure ere they died," replied
Captain Jeremy, in answer to my question. "The air is so dry within
the cave that rust is almost impossible. Were it not for the
treasure having been submerged in the sea, we would have been
well-nigh blinded by its glister."
Meanwhile the seamen were busily employed in cutting stout poles of
about six feet in length. Over these the sacks were slung, each pole
resting on the shoulders of two men.
Captain Miles gave the order to march, and within a couple of hours
from the time of our arrival the whole of the _Madre_ treasure was
on its way to the ship.
Yet, so heavy were the burdens and so difficult the path, it was
nearly sunset ere we reached the place where we had camped the
previous night.
Here we found the barrows quite undisturbed, so with feelings of
relief 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 watch
throughout the long night. Hunger and sleeplessness seemed strangers
to him, yet it was anxiety, not highness of spirits, that kept him
awake.
"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 the
stuff safe and sound in Poole Harbour. Mark my words, the most
anxious time is yet to come."
Shortly after midnight the camp was aroused by a musket shot, and
all 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 the
first sight of dawn the march was resumed.
The greater part of the path now being downhill, we made far more
rapid progress than on the outward journey, in spite of the load of
treasure; and late in the afternoon we reached the brow of the hill
overlooking the harbour where the _Golden Hope_ and her consort lay.
Captain Jeremy thereupon ordered three musket shots to be fired in
the air--the pre-arranged signal of success. Instantly a crowd of
men issued from the stockade, and with shouts and much waving of
arms rushed to meet us. The ships, too, hoisted their colours to the
mastheads, while the _Golden Hope_ fired seven guns by way of a
salute.
Willing hands seized the heavily laden barrows, and with a rush they
were run down the hill, across the flat plain, and into the
stockade, while Captain 'Enery and our leader exchanged
congratulations and eager questions.
"Any news?" asked Captain Jeremy anxiously.
"None; all is quiet on both vessels."
Having entered the stockade, Captain Jeremy immediately gave orders
for the spoil to be carried into the storehouse, and, having picked
out four tried men, he set them, under the superintendence of
Captain 'Enery, to load up the stout chests that had previously been
prepared.
"Men," he exclaimed to the rest of the crews, "the treasure is, as
you know, found." Here the bursts of cheering interrupted further
speech for a space of nearly two minutes, but when order was at
length restored Captain Jeremy continued: "Ere night I hope to have
the whole of these chests safely aboard the _Neptune_. It will mean
much labour, but I know you'll work with a will. This done, I want
all hands, save a sufficient guard on both brigs, to repair to the
stockade, and we'll have a right good carouse on the strength of our
success. There are several casks of spirits aboard the _Golden
Hope_, and sink me if I be niggardly in this matter."
Renewed cheering greeted this announcement, though, knowing that
Captain Jeremy was not a man to encourage a carouse, I wondered at
his action, especially at such a time, when there was danger from a
known mutinous party in our midst.
"Number one ready, sir," announced one of the men from the door of
the storehouse.
[Illustration: THE TREASURE OF THE "MADRE DE DIOS"]
"Then out with it," replied the Captain, and as the bulky chest
appeared, carefully nailed and corded, it was seized upon by a gang
of lusty seamen and conveyed to the water's edge, where a boat was
lying in readiness to take it to the _Neptune_. Seven others
followed before Captain 'Enery and the men, all looking warm with
their exertions, emerged from the storehouse, and the door was
carefully 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 to
hear, "Are our men ashore? Good! Now to settle with the rogues."
"Master Hammond, will you go and warn the crews of both vessels to
muster ashore to-night? The exceptions are named on this list," he
continued, slipping a paper into my hands. "They are to remain on
board and keep a careful watch. Warn them on the _Neptune_ of the
precious nature of their trust."
I made my way to the shore, where a boat conveyed me to the _Golden
Hope_. Then, having delivered Captain Jeremy's orders and detailed
the watch party, I proceeded aboard the _Neptune_.
Here I was met at the gangway by Tompkins, the quartermaster, whom
we knew to be one of the malcontents.
"Master Clemens is sick, sir," he reported, "and desires permission
to 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 an
ague."
Having had the crew mustered, I repeated Captain Jeremy's orders,
and proceeded to read the names of the men who were to remain. There
were sixteen of the latter, being five more than the watch on board
the _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, for
there were only the malcontents of the crew remaining on board the
_Neptune_. And under the charge of these rascals were the eight
treasure chests.