"He's dead as a doornail," said Toby.
"Poor thing," said Aunt Amanda. "Anyway, my orders is to explore this cavern, and see what we can find."
At this end of the cavern the water was slipping away under the wall, and this outlet explained why the water inside remained so shallow. The party commented on it, and then walked along the side wall towards the other end where the fall was. When they were midway along this wall, a cry from Toby, who had left Aunt Amanda to the care of Mr. Punch, startled the others.
"What's this?" he cried. "Look here!"
He was stooping over something, and as the others gathered round, they saw that he was stooping over a pile of small square boxes, standing in several long rows along the wall.
Mr. Hanlon lifted one of the boxes, with a great effort, and shook it. A jingling sound came from within.
"Aha!" said the Sly Old Fox. "That beautiful music! It is the sound, dear friends, the sound of—of Money!"
"Bless my soul!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Is it?"
"My opinion is," said the Churchwarden, "that there is gold in that box."