Phillipe sucked in his breath. “Senor,” he murmured, “Great wealth is here! A fortune!”
Jack scooped out the emeralds, examining them in the beam of the flashlight. All were perfect gems, dark green, with a deep smoldering fire.
“Senor, you hold great riches in your hand,” Phillipe whispered.
“Appleby Corning’s ransom perhaps.” Hypnotized by the warm glow of the gems, Jack turned them over and over in his palm.
He was brought from his reverie by an echoing shout from above.
“Jack!” It was Mr. Livingston who called. “Get up here! It’s late.”
“Coming,” Jack replied.
Swiftly he and Phillipe recovered the vein with earth and by means of the rope climbed out of the tunnel.
“Gosh, do you realize how late it is?” Ken greeted them.
“Does it matter?” Jack asked, still in a land of enchantment. “We found the mine, didn’t we? And look at this!” He flashed the handful of emeralds.