“We discovered their bodies not a hundred yards from the mouth of the shaft, and in the thicket near by was the stuff they had stolen.”
By this time the boat was alongside, and Jenkins passed over the rail the remainder of the treasure, consisting of silver plate and gold coin of considerable value.
“Did you meet any of the blacks?” Captain Mansfield asked.
“No, sir. I wanted to have one more brush with ’em; but you spoke about bein’ in a hurry, so I thought it wouldn’t pay.”
“And you did quite right. Swing the boat inboard, boys, and we will be off.”
Half-an-hour later the island looked to Gil and Nelse like nothing more than a small cloud on the surface of the water, and the venturesome cruise was really at an end, for before the sun rose again the schooner arrived at a Cuban port from which a freight steamer was on the eve of sailing for New York.
The journey home was decidedly uneventful after the many stirring adventures through which Gil and Nelse had passed, and it is well to bid them adieu as they greet the loved ones once more.
To-day, if they are reading this story, imperfectly told though it is, they will be able to verify all which is here set down, and can add for the information of those who may be interested, that the Day Dream is afloat. Not the one which was sunk off Pearl Point; but a new and even more speedy yacht, and she is commanded, as may be imagined, by Job Jenkins, while the captain of the galley is the same Andrew Jackson Washington Storts, who wore the mysterious charm which the boys were so eager to see, and which he still cherishes as something of the utmost value and power.
Was the real owner of the treasure ever found?
Indeed she was, and never was money more needed than by the unhappy man’s wife, who was in deepest distress when she chanced to see the advertisements Captain Mansfield had caused to be inserted in the daily papers.