"Right, Mas'r Harry, I'm here," he exclaimed.
"Put half those about you in your different pockets, Tom," I said. And
he did as he was bid, handling the little ingots as if they were so much
lead. "And, Tom, I want your advice. I've come to the conclusion that
it is not prudent to take all this through the woods at night, with
Indians about."
"That's sense, that is," said Tom, interrupting.
"I think, Tom, we'll hide it--all but this, which we'll take back; and
then we can come well prepared some other time, to carry the rest away."
"Good, Mas'r Harry; but where'll we hide it?"
"That's what I'm thinking, Tom," I said. "Where do you think would be a
good place?"
"Well, Mas'r Harry, I shouldn't bury it, because that's the way it was
hidden afore; nor I wouldn't chuck it down the big gulf place, as you
call it; it would be safe enough, only we couldn't get it again."
"Don't fool, Tom," I said impatiently.
"Who's a fooling?" said Tom gruffly. "Tell you what, Mas'r Harry, I
don't think those Indian chaps would ever have the pluck to go right in
where we've been. What do you think of the way under the arch on the
raft?"
"The very idea that struck me, Tom," I said.
Then I told him my plans--the result being that, at the end of a couple
of hours, the little raft was prepared, launched, laden with our
packages, and once more, with candles stuck in their clay sticks, we
were poling ourselves along very slowly in the black tunnel.
The lights flashed on roof, and from off the water, which rippled over
the bamboos and soaked us through and through; but we pressed slowly and
steadily on till we must have been half-way to the vault of the troubled
waters, when I whispered to Tom to stop.
We were now in a part where the tunnel widened out to thirty or forty
feet, though the roof was not more than a foot above our heads, and
remarkable for the streaks of a creamy spar which banded it in every
direction.
"Tom," I said in a whisper, as I glanced round to see that we were
alone, "could we do better than this?"
As I spoke I was trying the depth with my bamboo pole, to find that,
wherever I reached, there was not more than five feet of water.
"But suppose it's that shivering sand, and it swallers it up, Mas'r
Harry?"
"But it's hard rock, Tom. Feel," I whispered.
There was no mistaking the firmness of the bottom; so, carefully marking
the spot by a cross which I scored on the roof with my knife, we softly
dropped in six golden packages over the side of our little raft, which
seemed ready to leap out of the water on being released from its heavy
burden.
A soft gentle splash in each case, and then the black waters closed over
each package, a pang striking my heart as they disappeared; and I asked
myself whether I was wise, now that I had gained the object of my
search, to let it go from me again like that. I was roused, though,
from my reverie by Tom, who generally had a word of encouragement for me
at the blackest times.
"There, Mas'r Harry, that's covered up well, and it can be easily
uncovered again; and I'll lay my head agin a halfpenny apple, that if we
don't come to fetch that there, nobody else won't; for unless we told,
nobody wouldn't never find it."
I could not help thinking that Tom was right; and now, with my treasure
found, and, as it were, banked for my use, I felt lighter of spirit, and
we floated easily back in about the quarter of the time occupied in
going; when, carefully taking our raft once more partly to pieces, we
concealed it behind the rocks, and made the best of our way to the
mules.
"Now, Mas'r Harry, you may do as you like; but I say, let's get twenty
or thirty of these stone icicles, just as if we'd come on purpose to
fetch 'em, pack 'em atop of the mules, and ride bang out as if we were
not afraid of anybody."
It was good counsel, and I followed it, riding over the stony barrier
just as the sun was setting. The stalactites were swung in coffee-bags
on either side of the mules, which, delighted at being once more in the
open air, cantered off merrily whenever the track would allow.
It was just beginning to grow dark upon as glorious an evening as ever
shone upon the gorgeous tropic world, when we reached the end of the
ravine, and both became at the same instant aware of about a dozen
Indians, who advanced quickly, making friendly signs, and repeating the
word--"Amigos! Amigos!"
"They want to see what we've got, Mas'r Harry," chuckled Tom. "Don't
show fight unless they do."
Professing to ask for tobacco and a light, the little party surrounded
us; and, as if by accident, one man touched the bags, and contrived to
see their contents, when he said something to his companions, to whom we
civilly gave what they asked, showing no trace of tremor; while they
were smiling and servile. But I could not help feeling what would have
been our fate had the lading of those mules been the treasure, for
twelve to two were long odds.
It was evident that they were satisfied, and giving us the country
salutation, they bade us good-night, and we moved off; but Tom pulled
up, and shouted after the leader of the party, who returned; when, with
a face whose gravity could be seen, even in that dim short twilight, to
be extreme, Tom took out one of his smallest stalactites, held it up
before him, and repeated the word "buono" three times, and then
presented it to the Indian, who received it with grave courtesy and
retired.
"There," said Tom, "if he don't go and tell his tribe that we're madmen
after that, why, I was never born down Cornwall way. Say, though, Mas'r
Harry, that was a narrow escape; those chaps watch that gold, and they
thought we had it; and if we had been loaded that way I'm thinking that
it would have been buried again, with two skulls and bones this time,
and those would have been ours."
I shuddered as I urged my mule onward, anxious to reach the hacienda,
which we did earlier than I hoped for, stabled our mules, and then,
relieving Tom of his golden burden, I went up to my room and secured it
in my travelling case, before descending to find my uncle sitting, with
Lilla kneeling beside him, holding his hand; and a glance showed me that
both she and Mrs Landell had been weeping bitterly.
I was surprised to see them assembled at so late an hour, but taking no
notice, I went up and shook hands.
"Well, Harry," said my uncle sadly; "had enough of exploring yet?"
"Quite, Uncle," I said. "I have finished now."
He looked up at me for a moment, and then fell to stroking Lilla's
golden hair.
"Well, lad, I'm sorry," he said, after a pause; "but I may as well tell
you, and be out of my misery. But don't think I blame you, lad--don't
think I blame you, for I suppose it was to be."
"What is it, Uncle?" I said in an indifferent tone. "No new trouble, I
hope?"
He glanced at me in a sadly disappointed way, and then said sternly:
"_I_ don't reproach you, Harry; but that blow you struck Garcia has been
my ruin, unless I buy his favour with this."
As he spoke he laid his hand tenderly upon Lilla's head, then drew her
to him and kissed her lovingly.
"But we can't do that, my little lamb--we can't do that," he continued.
"We are to be turned out of the place; but I daresay there's a living to
be got--eh, Harry? You'll not leave us, I suppose, now we're in
trouble? You said you would not, and now, my lad, is the time to put
you to the proof. You'll work now, won't you?"
"Not if I know it, Uncle," I said coolly. "Why should I work? I'm much
obliged for your hospitality; but I feel now disposed to go back to
England, and the sooner the better."
My uncle did not speak, and a dead silence fell upon all. I caught one
sad, reproachful glance from Lilla's eyes; and then she clung, weeping
and whispering to my uncle, who, however, only shook his head.
"I think, my dears, we'll go to rest," he said at last suddenly.
"Lilla, my child, fetch the Book--we'll have one chapter in the old
place for the last time, for who can tell where we shall be to-morrow?"
My heart burned within me as I longed to tell the true-hearted old
fellow of my success, but I would not then. The news of Garcia's
behaviour gave me an opportunity that I could not resist, and, after
sitting in silence till my uncle had read his chapter and offered up a
simple prayer for the protection of all, I allowed them to part from me
almost coldly, though more in sorrow than in anger, and to go, aching of
heart, to bed.
I knew that Tom would not say a word, so I was safe; and the next
morning, after a sad, dull breakfast, I sat with them all in the
darkened room, my uncle starting at every noise in the yard, where all
looked bright and fair, while Lilla's eyes met mine from time to time in
mingled reproach and wonder at what seemed to her my heartless
behaviour.
We had not long to wait, for it seemed that Garcia had declared his
intention of being there that morning to demand payment of money, the
greater part of which had been advanced to Mrs Landell when a widow--a
debt which my uncle had undertaken to repay at the same time that he had
accepted further favours from this man.
We had not been seated there an hour when we heard Garcia's voice in the
yard, and Lilla crept closer to Mrs Landell.
"Harry," said my uncle, "you must please leave the room. I was in hopes
that you would have gone out. I cannot find it in my heart to give up
without making an appeal to Garcia for time."
"An appeal that shall end in a new bargain being made with respect to
that poor girl!" I exclaimed. "Uncle, be a man, or you will make me
blush for you!"
My uncle was about to speak when Garcia noisily entered the room, his
sneering, triumphant face turning pale with rage as he saw me seated
there.
Mrs Landell and Lilla both cast an imploring glance at me, one which I
answered by crossing over, taking Lilla's hand, and whispering a few
words of comfort and encouragement.
Garcia's eyes flashed, but he kept down his resentment, and, advancing
to the table:
"Senor Landell," he said, "I come to demand the money that is due to me,
and which I must now have. Of course you are prepared?"
"Prepared, Garcia?" said my uncle. "I am not prepared--you know that,"
he continued sadly. "But still these stringent proceedings will do you
no good. I ask you as a favour for time. I am certain that I can
realise more from the plantation than you can. Give me time and it will
prove to your advantage."
"Miss Lilla," said Garcia, advancing with a smile, "you hear your
stepfather's words. It rests with you. Shall I give him time?"
Lilla's only reply, as I stood back, was a shudder, and she clung more
closely to her mother.
The action was not lost upon Garcia, who stepped back rapidly to the
door, uttered some words to a couple of men in waiting, and they
followed him into the room.
"You have the papers," said Garcia fiercely to the elder man, who seemed
a sort of notary; "take possession of this place and all thereon, as
forfeited to me in accordance with the bonds. Senor Landell, in an hour
I require you to be off this plantation. As for you," he exclaimed,
turning to advance threateningly upon me, "you are an intruder. This
place is my property; leave here this instant! Or stay," he said with
mock courtesy; "perhaps the gay young English senor will take compassion
upon his uncle's position and release him by paying his debt. What does
Senor Grant say?"
"Harry, for Heaven's sake," cried my uncle, "let there be no
disturbance. Take care, or there will be bloodshed!" he cried.
For as I advanced to confront Garcia he drew out a pistol.
"Stand aside, Uncle!" I exclaimed angrily, for he had caught my arm.
"I know how to deal with this cowardly bully! Put up that pistol or--"
I did not finish my sentence, for in obedience to a nod Garcia was
dragged back into a chair, and Tom Bulk's sturdy arms pinioned him, but
not in time; for, with a cry of rage, he drew the trigger. There was a
sharp report, and then, as the smoke floated upward, a wild cry echoed
through the room.