The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-11-07
CHAPTER XVI
(Continued.)

Henning remained in the hole
for about 10 minutes, when his gro
tesque form emerged like a strange
sea-monster, and he crawled up the
slanted deck again, and came above
the water. Sitting on the broker
rail of the steamer, he shouted tC
them, but his voice came inarticu
lately through the helmet, and, see
ing his failure, he gesticulated al
the derrick.
He wants us to lower the crap
pies" exclaimed Elliott He ran tC
the crank and touched it, looking
at Henninger, and the helmet
nodded affiramtively.
Henninger caught the hooks as
soon as they were within reach and
he descended once more into the
hold. He reappeared at last, and
clambered with difficulty aboard
the dhOw.
Hoist away" he said, as soon
as the helmet was unscrewed. 1--WE
got one hooked
At the word the Arabs began tC
revolve the handles. The long spar
rose and an iron-bound, wooden
packing case, about three feet in
diameter, appeared at the hatch
and swung dripping out of the
water. The dhow heeled slightly
at its weight
~InbOard,' commanded Henning
err, and the reis translated the or
der The beam was swung around
till the case hung directly over the
after hatchway of the dhow, and
being lowered it descended accu
rately out of sight.
Every one rushed down the
ladder to look at it as it lay in
the center of a widening pool on
the planking. with the grapples still
fast, Hawke went out and returned
with an ak, but Henninger check
ed him.
why, aren't you going to open
it," said Hawke, staring
Better not. We know well
enough what's in it We've got tC
hurry. work day and night, and get
away from here as quick as ever
we can"
"'Oh, confound it! Well have to
open one of them. anyway. We
may have made a mistake Aren't
we going to see any of the
plunder?' exclaimed Elliott and
Hawke, and Margaret added her
entreaty
"All right, go ahead" Henning
err gave in. open it carefully
though. for we'll want to close the
box again. Sullivan, please keep
an eye on the hatch to see that
nobody looks down"
Hawke released the grapples
and they dragged the case into the
cabin, where, with some difficulty
one of the boards of the cover was
pried off.
The hay was packed tightly, but
in a few seconds Hawke encOun
tered something solid and brought
it to light. 1t was a dead yellow
brick of gold, exactly similar tc
the one already acquired.
Hawke continued his work unit
the floor was swimming with water
and heaped with sodden hay, and
the pile of yellow blocks grew upon
the floor. At last. the box was
empty.
Twenty ?five," remarked Hennin
ger, who had been counting them
as they came out. 1--WE might as
we'll weigh them. There are small
scales in the storeroom,' which
Elliott at once fetched.
The scales, which were not
strictly accurate, indicated the
weight of the first brick at a trifle
under eight pounds and the others
all gave the same result Evident
ly they had been run in the same
mold.
THE latest quotation for pure
gold, as | suppose this is, was
$25 an ounce, or Whereabouts. Al
that rate, how much is each Of
these bricks worth? Remember
these scales weigh 16 ounces to the
pound"
Three thousand two hundred
dollars" replied Hawke, after max
ing the ejaculation. "The whole
case will total up-let me see
S8O00O
Il counted % cases in the fore
hold and there are two at least II
the attended," said Bennett.
1.-TWO millions" said Hawke.
1.-TWO millions!" whispered Mar
garet. and at her awed tone Hawke
burst into a high pitched roar o.
laughter. Bennett caught the con
tagion and laughed, shrill
nervous peal, till they could moi
leave off.
stop it," shouted Henninger.
"We'l never have a chance tt
laugh like this again, Hawke man
aged to calculate, and there was &
renewed outburst.
"Brace up. You're all historical!
said Henninger. sharply, and they
gradually regained self-control
Come" he continued, we've got
to get the rest of that stuff aboard
Hawke. you and Miss Laurie will
repack that box again just as II
was before. Make memorandum
of the number of bricks in 1t, ant
Miss Laurie, you will keep a tally
of the boxes as they come down.
This time. Elliott volunteered tC
go below, and he donned the diving
dress, and numbered over the side