The Vestal Virgin had vanished as completely as if transported bodily to another sphere. Only a mound of sand remained where it had been.
“Great Jericho!” exclaimed Captain Bell, in horror. “What has become of it?”
“Golly, I done fink dat it hab been blowed to pieces!” declared Pomp.
“Bejabers, maybe it’s buried!” said Barney, at a venture.
“Yes,” replied Frank. “It has been buried by the earthquake. No doubt the great revulsion of Nature’s forces has covered it many feet deep with sand.”
“And the treasure ——” began Von Bulow.
“Is gone!” groaned Bell.
For a time there was a painful silence.
All stood looking at each other with dismay depicted upon their faces. Bell was now completely disgusted.
“It’s only a sample of my dad-gasted luck,” he declared. “Every time I get a fortune within my grasp it is whisked away.”