"Tough for lead," he commented, "and yet too soft for iron, unless the stuff's badly corroded. By Jove! Villiers! I believe—yes, I'm sure—it's silver."
"Regular Tom Tiddler's ground then," remarked Jack. "When we left England silver was soaring. Wonder what it's worth now?"
"At any rate, we won't fly in the face of Providence," declared Harborough. "A few days more won't matter very much. When we've finished with the Fusi Yama, we'll lift some of this stuff."
"There's enough to sink the Titania," declared Villiers. "The hold of that ship must have been chock-full of silver. Rum sort of ballast."
"Probably a Spanish treasure-ship or a buccaneering craft that sunk with her booty," suggested Claverhouse. "They did that sort of thing once, I believe."
"Then that's settled," declared Harborough briskly. "Finish with the Fusi Yama, and then carry on with the silver that friend von Giespert, by the hand of pal Strauss, kindly discovered for us. How's the glass, by the by? I forgot to look this morning."
"It rose a point and a half after eight," reported Villiers, "and now it is dropping rather too rapidly."
"H'm!" exclaimed Harborough. "That's bad. It may interfere with our work, and we can't afford to lose much more plant. We'll work double shifts, and keep our weather-eye lifting."
By sunset the task of clearing the Fusi Yama's strong-room was accomplished, and an hour later the last of the gold was safely on board the Titania—an event that was signalized by three hearty cheers and splicing the "mainbrace" with discreet tots of champagne.
The while the glass was falling rapidly, although not so low as on the occasion of the devastating hurricane. Nevertheless, every possible precaution was taken. The boats were hoisted in and lashed down, awnings and side-curtains stowed, and additional cable veered out. The engine-room stood by ready to start the heavy oil-engines, and thus ease the strain on the anchor-chains should occasion arise. All hands were on board, preferring to face the storm in a staunch craft anchored in a fairly-sheltered lagoon to risking a wet and uncomfortable, if not dangerous, night ashore.