"Yes," was the answer. "I dug it out of the first paragraph written on that piece of parchment. 'Read and give heed, for the head of Obboney contains many things, perilous and otherwise.' I got to thinking that those words might be read in two ways."
"It was a great scheme that," observed Townsend, "hiding a treasure of diamonds in the head of an idol which gives off a deadly odor. I wish we knew more about the Man from Cape Town and where he got the stones; but he is dead, and the mystery will no doubt always remain unsolved."
"Unless his daughter can tell us something about her father," said Matt.
"That is possible, of course. There must be fully two hundred of these stones, and they are all of the very finest. A fortune, my lads! Part of it comes to me, and out of my part we shall share and share alike."
The boys, with the exception of Carl, began to protest, but Townsend silenced them with a word.
"It is only right," he averred. "You have borne many dangers on account of that iron chest, and mere justice calls upon you to have your due share of the treasure. I shall make it my business to see that you get it."
When the last stone was gathered off the floor, and the handkerchiefs were all carefully tied up, the little bundles of stones were turned over to Townsend. He stowed them carefully away in his pockets.
"The question now arises," said he, "as to what we shall do with Jurgens, Whistler, Bangs and the unknown? No doubt we could make them smart for what they have done, not only here in New Orleans, but also for Jurgens' and Whistler's criminal work in stealing the Grampus. But will it pay to bother with them?"
"Not to-night," returned Matt, promptly. "The thing for you to do, Townsend, is to get safely aboard the Grampus as quick as you can. You have the price of a king's ransom about your clothes and it would be foolish to take any chances with it."
"Like alvays," chirped Carl, "Modor Matt has hit der nail righdt on der head. Vat he says goes mit me, und it ought to go mit eferypody else."