While there were thousands of the pearls upon the bed of the valley, only a few of them were fit to preserve.
Many were imperfect, many crumbled to powder, and only one in fifty was a perfect and valuable gem.
But there were, all the same, many rare, beautiful and valuable specimens, and these Captain Uriah diligently searched for.
For hours the pearl miners worked, and with much success. Then suddenly Captain Uriah threw up his arms and fell in a heap.
Barney, who was in the pilot-house saw this, and gave a yell of wild alarm.
CHAPTER X.
THE STORM.
The Celt knew fully what was the trouble with Captain Uriah.
The pressure upon the helmet had lasted so long that faintness or syncope had descended upon the luckless man.
There was danger that he would die before he could be got aboard the Dolphin, and Barney realized this.
So he yelled: