Just those he held there now were such as a lapidary would spend his life willingly in the getting. If not another stone were found in the cave, these alone represented a fortune worthy of the expedition. Each stone as it stood was worth probably from three to eight hundred dollars, and some of the larger would run into the thousands. It was difficult to realize their full value here where they counted for so little,––no more than the rays of the stars themselves,––here where so many others lay in a heap like broken glass. Vaguely Stubbs grasped the fact that he had in his possession the worth of many good ships and 277 freedom for the rest of his life. Yet he thrilled less with this thought than he did with the sheer joy of discovery. A man will cherish a dime he picks up on the street more than he does a five-dollar bill in his pocket. It was this spirit of treasure-trove that got into his blood, sending a tingle of new life through his veins. He tried to rouse Wilson to it.
“Come here, man,” he shouted. “Come here and see what we’ve got. God! there’s millions in this cave!”
But Wilson lifted his head indifferently.
“I don’t give a damn,” he answered.
“You haven’t seen ’em sparkle––you haven’t gut it inter yer head! Ye’re rich––richer than Danbury!”
He hurried back to where Wilson sat and thrust the jewels before his eyes.
“D’ ye see ’em?” he cried excitedly. “Bigger ’n yer thumb?”
For a second his old-time suspicion and doubt returned.
“But maybe,” he added sorrowfully, “maybe they’re jus’ glass. Jus’ my luck.”
Nevertheless he believed sufficiently in them to return to the quest. He struck match after match, wandering farther and farther into the darkness, hoping to find something with which he could make light enough to see around him. He gave a little cry of joy as he came upon an old-time altar light––a platter of oil containing a crude wick. He lighted this. 278 The flame sputtered feebly, died down, then revived to a big, steady flame. With his arms at his side, his mouth wide open, he gaped at what the light revealed.