"The thermos bottle," he said, giving it to his mother.
In the dark she and the girls opened it, counting the black pearls. They were intact.
"Work carefully now," Ian warned Ostap. "The rest are in waterproof packets--we shall miss them."
"It's so dark," complained the priest. "Can't we use my electric torch?"
"Not if you want to be alive to-morrow," said Ostap bluntly. "Their sentries are watching."
And they fumbled on. The moon had set long ago, so they worked very slowly. But at last, after feeling every clod of earth near where they found the thermos bottle, they came upon a waterproof packet. It contained Minnie's pearls.
"Only one more, Ostap," said Ian. "It was put near this. We sha'n't be long."
In a few moments he found it; it held half of the famous Ruvno emeralds, worth many thousand roubles. Ostap did not ask what was in the packet, but remarked:
"Oh, God, it's wonderful how little room treasure takes up. Now do you all, ladies, secure them well about your persons; and we must be off."
"Thank God, we have them at last," said the Countess. "We shall be able to keep the wolf from the door." She spoke thus, afraid that he would have an idea of the treasure's real value. For she did not trust him yet. Hastily they put the pearls about their persons, while Ostap strolled a few paces away.