“It was a kind and Christian act on your part,” said Tom. “Very few captains would have run fifty miles out of their course to pick up two poor souls, ’specially while so many British cruisers are about. I and my mate—” Here he stopped, for a great lump rose in his throat until it seemed to choke him. “Tut! tut! tut! tut!” said Captain Williamson, holding up his hand deprecatingly; “it was no more than one Christian man ought to do for another. Say no more of that, I beg of you. There are many questions that I wish to ask of you in reference to the loss of the _Nancy Hazlewood_, but I will not trouble you with questions just at this season. I will beg of you to give such an account, however, after you are refreshed with clean linen and clothes, and what not.” As Captain Williamson paused for a moment Tom looked at Jack, and saw that he fidgeted restlessly in his chair when the other spoke of the _Nancy Hazlewood_. There was a great deal about her loss that would be very difficult and very bitter to tell. “In the meantime,” said Captain Williamson, resuming his speech, “you need have no anxiety about anything that you may desire to fetch away from the island with you, for I have sent a boat ashore under my second mate, Mr. Bright. He will see that everything is brought safely away from your hut or cabin. So, as I said, you need have no anxiety on that score.” At these words Jack and Tom sprung to their feet, for the thought struck them both at once that their money would be found, and that in an hour’s time every man aboard of the ship would not only know that the two castaways had been digging for treasure, but would also know where that treasure had been found. It would be no secret then, but would be known to all, and there was no telling what such knowledge might bring with it. It was a thing that no one but the captain or the chief officers of the ship should be aware of just at the present time. “Captain Williamson,” cried Jack, “for the love of heaven, don’t let that boat go ashore just yet! Tom, you speak to him, you’re blessed with the gift of talk; speak to him, and tell him about the mon—, about you know what.” “Yes, captain,” cried Tom, “for heaven’s sake don’t let the boat go ashore till we tell you something first.” Captain Williamson had also risen to his feet. He seemed to be very much amazed at their words. “Why not? Why shouldn’t the boat go ashore?” said he. “What does all this mean?” “Has the boat left the ship yet, captain?” said Tom. “Yes; the boat has left the ship; but what does all this mean, I say?” “Then, stop it—call it back!” cried Tom. Jack was walking up and down, patting his clenched fist in his excitement. “I’ll tell you what it means,” he blurted out; “it means that there’s nigh to nine thousand dollars in silver money in that hut, and that the crew of the boat mustn’t find it there.”