Astonished at this singular persistence, Tranquil stretched out his arm, too.
"Give it here," he said.
Quoniam handed him an article which he seemed anxious to conceal from the persons present; the Canadian uttered a cry of surprise on seeing it.
"Where did you find this?" he asked anxiously.
"When I rushed on that man, I know not how it was, but this chain and the articles attached to it were placed, as it were, in my hand. When I fell into the sea, I clung to the chain; there it is, do what you please with it."
Tranquil, after again examining the mysterious object, concealed it in his chest, and gave vent to a profound sigh. All at once, Carmela started up in horror.
"Oh, look, look, father!" she shrieked, "Woe, woe, we are lost!"
The hunter started at the sound of the girl's voice, and his eyes filled with tears.
"What is the matter?" he asked in a weak voice
"The matter is," the Captain said rudely, "that unless a miracle take place, we are really lost this time, as Doña Carmela says."