Jack placed the pearls before Jacob, and he pronounced them to be the most valuable yet taken. "We must sort them out before we start," he said, "and stow them safely away; some of these black devils are awful thieves and you cannot be too careful. Those two fellows Amos Hooker sent you are up to no good, I can tell by the way they hang together, and watch us." Kylis grinned, and showed his teeth in a white gleam. "I'll take charge of them if you like," said Jack. "Barry gave me a strong box in case we found anything of value, and also a couple of cases which I can carry always with me if it is necessary." "That's Barry all over, he always looks ahead. I think you are the proper person to look after them, but there is some risk in it." "How can there be?" said Jack, laughing. "Listen, and I will tell you," said Jacob. "On one of my voyages, we found amongst the others six fine pearls of value, and my mate decided to do as you suggest, carry them on his person in a small case. They nearly proved the death of him, for one of the crew got wind of it, and attacked him in his bunk, just before we got into port. If I had not come on the scene, he would have had a bad time, but I settled the fellow, he's never been any good since. You'll have to be careful, Mr. Redland, if you carry them about with you always." "Perhaps you had better put them all in the big box," said Harry. "I am agreeable, all except one," said Jack, smiling. They looked at him curiously, he spoke mysteriously, what did it mean? "I have a little surprise in store for you," went on Jack, and Kylis strained his ears to listen. "I had a find to-day, at least I shall be very disappointed if it does not turn out as well as I expect." "Discovered a big pearl?" asked Phil, with a laugh. "I hope it is not a fraud." "It may be for all I know, it is black," said Jack. Jacob Rank sprang to his feet and said, excitedly, "A black pearl? you said a black pearl? I have only seen one in my life, and it was sold for a heap of money. Where is it?" "Here," replied Jack, as he took it out of his pocket and handed it to him. When Jacob saw the beautiful black egg-shaped pearl, he gasped for breath, and stared at it with wondering eyes. They crowded around him, as he held it in his hand, and all seemed lost in amazement. "What do you think of it?" asked Jack. "Mr. Redland, this is one of the rarest pearls that ever came out of a shell. It is perfect, there is not a fault in it, and look at its size. It is worth a heap of money, I dare not say how much, if we had found nothing else, this pearl would have been worth coming for," said Jacob. Phil Danks and Hake Moss were also loud in their praises, and examined it closely. "This will not need any pearl faker to make it perfect," said Phil. "No," replied Jacob, "it can be mounted just as it is." "What is a pearl faker?" asked Jack.