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 l.u.s.t 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_.
"Pa.s.s 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 s.p.a.ce 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 n.i.g.g.ardly 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.
[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 l.u.s.ty 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 ash.o.r.e? Good! Now to settle with the rogues."
"Master Hammond, will you go and warn the crews of both vessels to muster ash.o.r.e 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 sh.o.r.e, 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 ash.o.r.e."
"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.