“I’m going to risk what you’ve got out already, sir,” was the reply. “According to the men there’s about three hundredweight to lower yet.”
“At a rough guess, yes,” said Brace.
“That’s the very outside then, and we shall have to beat and hammer a lot of these together with the axeheads to make them take up less room. Look for yourselves.”
A long and earnest look was directed below, where the boats were packed beneath the thwarts and fore and aft with the treasure, and presented a strange aspect.
“Yes, he’s quite right,” said Briscoe, with a sigh. “Oh, if we only had one of those coal-barges that I’ve seen lying at anchor in your Thames.”
“Let’s be content, Briscoe, and get these figures aboard. We must not run risks and lose all.”
“That’s wisdom, Sir Humphrey, and I’ve no more to say. Keep on lowering down, my lads, while we go back. Oh, dear, I wish we hadn’t burned all that green stuff that hid the door.”
“It will soon shoot out and grow again,” said Brace; “but we must come back for another load.”
They went back into the temple to take a look round, lanthorn in hand, and then had literally to drag themselves away from the sight of the vast treasure they were compelled to leave behind.
“It’s of no use,” said Brace. “Come along. The more we look the more unwilling we shall be to leave.”