Chapter XV Eureka!
Jack’s communication rendered me frantic with excitement, and I instantly determined that I would do as he had suggested. The idea of wandering about the bush at night, alone, was not pleasant; but if the treasure were really at the foot of Jack’s post, why, it would be worth running the gauntlet of a score of lions to get it. Besides, I could take a torch. Of course, the hard and smooth surface the post rested upon might prove to be a stone and no more; still, I would go and see for myself.
Jack and I divided the watching every night. We could not, of course, trust either of the others to undertake the duty. Such a step would have been suicidal indeed on our part; for James Strong, at anyrate, and possibly Clutterbuck also, would have taken so good an opportunity to rid himself of a rival and of a rival’s inconvenient friend at a swoop. Hence both men were allowed to sleep, if they would, all and every night.
This evening we supped well upon an antelope shot by Jack in the bush while we laboured in our treasure-field, and by the time darkness was well set in, James Strong and Clutterbuck were already in full snore. Then, moving cautiously, I took rifle, spade, and torch, and sallied forth, not without some trepidation, upon my enterprise.
Whether owing to the occasional shots fired by us in this place in the pursuit of game, or whether by reason of their natural dislike for abiding in the continued proximity of mankind, we had not been bothered during the last few days by the presence of many hyenas or other creatures of the kind about our camp. A few days ago, if I had undertaken the gruesome night enterprise upon which I had now embarked, I should have been startled almost at every step by some suddenly rushing or creeping brute; but to-night I was left to pursue my journey almost in peace.
I had no difficulty in groping my way to our treasure-area, which resembled a ploughed field by this time, with all the digging and re-digging it had suffered. Nor was I long in discovering the post as to which Jack had formed so strong and optimistic an opinion.
After all, it was not unlikely that our old miser should have planted a post over the grave of his treasures, and I was somewhat surprised that it had not occurred either to me or to the Strong faction to remove the posts and look underneath them, since we had dug up the whole of the area enclosed by them without result. Doubtless it would have occurred to us to do so after we had dug a little deeper in the space enclosed.
At all events, here was Jack’s post, and I laid hold of it and shook it, and moved it up and down just as he had described that he had done himself. Sure enough, the post struck hard and dead on some flat, unyielding substance beneath. My heart beat in a ridiculous fashion—was I really on the brink of a discovery that would place me for ever out of reach of poverty and of the necessity to embark in some lifelong, uncongenial occupation? I felt so faint in the agitation of the moment that I was obliged to pause and gather strength before I was sufficiently master of my energies to lay hold of the post and pull it up.
“Now, Godfrey,” I said to myself, “don’t be a fool. In moments of difficulty preserve an equal mind; if you can’t do that, what was the use of your learning Horace? Pull yourself together and play the man!”
I seized the post and tugged at it. It was stiff enough to resist displacement, though it had wobbled about when shaken to and fro. But having once mastered my agitation, I was equal to any amount of exertion; and by dint of working it backwards and forwards and up and down for five minutes, and twisting it round in my embracing arms, I succeeded at last in raising and removing it. My torch had gone out meanwhile, and I could see nothing, of course, in the dark hole which had formed the socket of the post.
Kneeling over it, therefore, with palpitating heart, I plunged my hand down. My arm did not reach the bottom in this way, however, and I lay down on my side and plunged it in a second time to the very armpit. This time the ends of my fingers just touched the bottom of the hole, and distinctly felt what seemed a cold, flat substance lying there, but could not grasp and raise it.
I tried to keep cool and think how best to act under the agitating circumstances.
Then I lay down again, after scraping away some of the sandy soil at the edge of the hole, in order to gain a few inches in reach by getting my shoulder lower; and this time I was able to distinguish, by the touch, a small tin box, and to get my fingers under it. In the joy of that moment I could scarcely forbear to shout aloud. Eureka! I had found the treasure! I was a rich man; the whole world was my own—to the full extent of about ninety-eight thousand pounds odd.
Slowly and carefully I raised the little box to the surface; my grip upon it was as tight as that of a drowning man to the hand that will save him. Up it came, a small tin thing like a cheap money-box by the feel; now I had it safely, and was standing shaking it, half dazed, trying to realise what its discovery meant for me. Oh for a light, that I might open it and gloat without delay over its thrice-blessed contents!
The next moment I was careering at full speed towards the camp fire to tell Jack of the marvellous success of my night enterprise, and to open with him the treasure-box that burned my hands as I carried it. But stay! what if James Strong were awake? Could I postpone the joy of raising the lid of that box until the morning, and the almost equal delight of telling Jack all about it? No, I felt I could not. If I might not open the box, and talk about it too, I should certainly “go crazy.”
As I approached the fire, however, I saw that both James Strong and Clutterbuck were fast asleep, Jack watching. He heard me coming, though I crept softly for fear of awakening the sleepers, and long before he could possibly have seen me he had his finger to his lip in token that caution was required. I concealed the box in the “hare-pocket” of my Norfolk jacket, and stepped into the firelight. I suppose that Jack thought I was about to speak, for he said very softly, “Ssh!” and made a warning gesture.
It was tantalising indeed. Nevertheless, I sat down by the fire close to Henderson, and for a few minutes neither of us spoke or whispered a word. The only sign that passed between us was an interrogatory uplifting of the eyebrows by Jack, which I took to mean, “Any success?” and to which I responded with the very slyest possible closing of the left eyelid, which I intended to signify “Rather!”
After about ten minutes of listening to James Strong’s measured snoring and Clutterbuck’s groans, grunts, and snortings, Jack leant over and whispered—
“Strong sat up and looked around while you were away. He made as though he did not notice your absence, but I have an idea that he knew all about it. We must be very careful indeed. Have you really had any luck?”
“The best possible,” I whispered back. “Can I show you something?”
“Wait a bit, old man!” said Jack, pressing my hand; “this is splendid! I congratulate you; but for Heaven’s sake be careful! I don’t trust that fellow Strong’s sleeping; he may be wide awake, watching. He’s as cunning as they’re made.”
“Let’s try him,” I suggested. “I’ll suddenly cough loudly, and you keep a careful watch on his eyes; probably he’ll wince if he’s awake.”
“Go on, then,” said Jack. I didn’t cough; I said “Hello!” very shortly and sharply. Strong gave a slight start, but then so did Clutterbuck, and both went on sleeping.
“We’ll give them another ten minutes,” whispered Jack, “and then risk it.”
At the expiration of that period I looked inquiringly at Jack, and he nodded affirmatively.
Slowly and cautiously, and with my eyes fixed upon Strong’s face, I drew the tin box from my deep pocket; I heard Jack’s breath come quick and short as he caught sight of the prize. It was, as I thought, a plain tin money-box, painted black and gold, such as anyone may buy at any ironmonger’s for a few shillings. It was tied round with a wire, but unlocked, and with trembling fingers I removed the wire and opened the lid.
Within was a second tin box, a small thing like a sandwich-box, and this too was unlocked.
I paused to take a look at the sleepers; both were still, apparently, as fast asleep as ever.
“Go on!” whispered Jack; “it’s all right.”
I put my hand inside the case and produced a leather pocket-book, and from this I drew an envelope!
“Ah, a cheque!” whispered Jack; “and a fat one if it’s for the lot!”
There were several papers in the envelope. First a letter, which I put aside to read later, because the rest were bank-notes, and I was anxious to learn the amount of my inheritance.
Then came two terrible shocks, one after the other.
Shock number one. There were twenty five pound notes. No more, and no less!