"We are not," returned King. "It is amazing to reflect upon the apparent hopelessness of our position a couple of hours ago, while now we seem to have no reason to anticipate any insurmountable difficulties."
"Don't be too sure about that," I remonstrated. "We still have to consider the proposition of smuggling tons of treasure out of a country that would be delighted to get its hands on it."
"We'll find a way," Nikka declared. "I feel more hopeful than I did. Hugh has given us a lesson in practical strategy. It was a master-stroke to buy in Tokalji. Now we have some time to spare."
"And with submission, sir, Mister Nikka," said Watkins, gently closing the door behind him. "Miss Betty is dead asleep on some rugs upstairs. 'Ave you gentlemen forgot it's past eight o'clock? Come, now, a bite of supper, and you'd best sleep a while."
"He's right," assented Hugh. "We're overdoing it. A night's sleep will set us all up."
We slept royally, leaving the guard duty to Wasso Mikali's men; and the next day we awoke with confidence in our united ability to overcome all remaining obstacles. At Nikka's suggestion we called upon Wasso Mikali for his advice. He pondered for five minutes or so, then spoke like a judge on the bench.
"A great treasure like this cannot be trusted in many men's hands," he said. "Otherwise I would offer to transport it by mule-trains to the dwelling-place of my tribe. Jakka knows how secure that is. But even if we succeeded in carrying it there, what should we do with it? To make use of it, you must carry it to the lands where you live.
"So, friends of my sister's son, I say that you must put the treasure on a boat, and you must go on that boat, yourselves, and you must be sure you can trust the captain."
"But how can we find such a boat and captain?" asked Hugh.
"Leave that to me," answered Wasso Mikali promptly. "I know certain men of my race in this city who can furnish me with information about the vessels that come to the Golden Horn. And in the meantime, you must make boxes to hold the treasure."