Buried Treasures

by Bram Stoker

Chapter I - The Old WreckMr. Stedman spoke."I do not wish to be too hard on you; but I will not, I cannotconsent to Ellen's marrying you till you have sufficient means tokeep her in comfort. I know too well what poverty is. I saw her poormother droop and pine away till she died, and all from poverty. No,no, Ellen must be spared that sorrow at all events.""But, sir, we are young. You say you have always earned yourliving. I can do the same and I thought" - this with a flush -"I thought that if I might be so happy as to win Ellen's love thatyou might help us.""And so I would, my dear boy; but what help could I give? Ifind it hard to keep the pot boiling as it is, and there is onlyEllen and myself to feed. No, no, I must have some certainty forEllen before I let her leave me. Just suppose anything shouldhappen to me" -"Then, sir, what could be better than to have some one tolook after Ellen - some one with a heart to love her as she shouldbe loved, and a pair of hands to be worked to the bone for her sake.""True, boy; true. But still it cannot be. I must be certain ofEllen's future before I trust her out of my own care. Come now,let me see you with a hundred pounds of your own, and I shall notrefuse to let you speak to her. But mind, I shall trust to yourhonour not to forestall that time.""It is cruel, sir, although you mean it in kindness. I could aseasily learn to fly as raise a hundred pounds with my presentopportunities. Just think of my circumstances, sir. If my poor fatherhad lived all would have been different; but you know that sad story.""No, I do not. Tell it to me.""He left the Gold Coast after spending half his life theretoiling for my poor mother and me. We knew from his letter that hewas about to start for home, and that he was coming in a smallsailing vessel, taking all his savings with him. But from that timeto this he has never been heard of.""Did you make inquiries?""We tried every means, or rather poor mother did, for I wastoo young, and we could find out nothing.""Poor boy. From my heart I pity you; still I cannot change myopinion. I have always hoped that Ellen would marry happily. I haveworked for her, early and late, since she was born, and it wouldbe mistaken kindness to let her marry without sufficient provisionsfor her welfare."Robert Hamilton left Mr. Stedman's cottage in great dejection.He had entered it with much misgiving, but with a hope so strongthat it brightened the prospect of success. He went slowly along thestreets till he got to his office, and when once there he had somuch work to do that little time was left him for reflection untilhis work for the day was over. That night he lay awake, trying withall the intentness of his nature to conceive some plan by which hemight make the necessary sum to entitle him to seek the hand of EllenStedman: but all in vain. Scheme after scheme rose up before him, buteach one, though born of hope, quickly perished in succession.Gradually his imagination grew in force as the real world seemed tofade away; he built bright castles in the air and installed Ellenas their queen. He thought of all the vast sums of money made eachyear by chances, of old treasures found after centuries, new treasuresdug from mines, and turned from mills and commerce. But all theserequired capital - except the old treasures - and this source ofwealth being a possibility, to it his thoughts clung as a man lostin mid-ocean clings to a spar - clung as he often conceived that hispoor father had clung when lost with all his treasure far at sea."Vigo Bay, the Schelde, already giving up their long-buried spoil,"so thought he. "All round our coasts lie millions lost, hidden but fora time. Other men have benefited by them - why should not I have achance also?" And then, as he sunk to sleep the possibility seemed tobecome reality, and as he slept he found treasure after treasure, andall was real to him, for he knew not that he dreamt.He had many dreams. Most of them connected with the finding oftreasures, and in all of them Ellen took a prominent place. He seemedin his dreams to renew his first acquaintance with the girl he loved,and when he thought of the accident that brought them together, itmight be expected that the seashore was the scene of many of his dreams.The meeting was in this wise: One holiday, some three years before, hehad been walking on the flat shore of the 'Bull,' when he noticed atsome distance off a very beautiful young girl, and set to longing forsome means of making her acquaintance. The means came even as he wished.The wind was blowing freely, and the girl's hat blew off and hurriedseawards over the flat shore. He ran after it and brought it back: andfrom that hour the two had, after their casual acquaintance had beensanctioned by her father, became fast friends.Most of his dreams of the night had faded against morning, but onehe remembered.He seemed to be in a wide stretch of sand near the hulk of a greatvessel. Beside him lay a large iron-bound box of great weight, whichhe tried in vain to lift. He had by a lever just forced it through ahole in the side of the ship, and it had fallen on the sand and wassinking. Despite all he could do, it still continued to go down intothe sand, but by slow degrees. The mist was getting round him, shuttingout the moonlight, and from far he could hear a dull echoing roarmuffled by the fog, and the air seemed laden with the clang of distantbells. Then the air became instinct with the forms of life, and amidthem floated the form of Ellen, and with her presence the gloom and fogand darkness were dispelled, and the sun rose brightly on the instant,and all was fair and happy.Next day was Sunday, and so after prayers he went for a walk withhis friend, Tom Harrison.They directed their steps towards Dollymount, and passing acrossthe bridge, over Crab Lake, found themselves on the North Bull. The tidewas "black" out, and when they crossed the line of low bent-coveredsand-hills, or dunnes, as they are called in Holland, a wide stretch ofsand intersected with shallow tidal streams lay before them, out towardsthe mouth of the bay. As they looked, Robert's dream of the night beforeflashed into his memory, and he expected to see before him the hulk ofthe old ship.Presently Tom remarked:"I do not think I ever saw the tide so far out before. What animmense stretch of sand there is. It is a wonder there is no rock oranything of the kind all along this shore.""There is one," said Robert, pointing to where, on the very edgeof the water, rose a little mound, seemingly a couple of feet at most,over the level of the sand."Let us go out to it," said Tom, and accordingly they both tookoff their boots and stockings, and walked over the wet sand, and fordedthe shallow streams till they got within a hundred yards of the mound.Suddenly Tom called out: "It is not a rock at all; it is a ship, bottomupwards, with the end towards us, and sunk in the sand."Robert's heart stood still for an instant.What if this should be a treasure-ship, and his dream proveprophetic? In an instant more he shook aside the fancy and hurriedon.They found that Tom had not been mistaken. There lay the hulk ofan old ship, with just its bottom over the sand. Close round it theebb and flow of the tide had worn a hole like the moat round an oldcastle; and in this pool small fishes darted about, and lazy crabssidled into the sand.Tom jumped the narrow moat, and stood balanced on the keel, and ahard task he had to keep his footing on the slippery seaweed. He tappedthe timbers with his stick, and they gave back a hollow sound. "Theinside is not yet choked up," he remarked.Robert joined him, and walked all over the bottom of the ship,noticing how some of the planks, half rotten with long exposure, weresinking inwards.After a few minutes Tom spoke -"I say, Bob, suppose that this old ship was full of money, and thatyou and I could get it out.""I have just been thinking the same.""Suppose we try," said Tom, and he commenced to endeavour to prizeup the end of a broken timber with his stick. Robert watched him forsome minutes, and when he had given up the attempt in despair, spoke -"Suppose we do try, Tom. I have a very strange idea. I had acurious dream last night, and this old ship reminds me of it."Tom asked Robert to tell the dream. He did so, and when he hadfinished, and had also confided his difficulty about the hundredpounds, Tom remarked -"We'll try the hulk, at any rate. Let us come some night and cuta hole in her and look. It might be worth our while; it will be a larkat any rate."He seemed so interested in the matter that Robert asked him thereason."Well, I will tell you," he said. "You know Tomlinson. Well, hetold me the other day that he was going to ask Miss Stedman to marryhim. He is well off - comparatively, and unless you get your chancesoon you may be too late. Don't be offended at me for telling you. Iwanted to get an opportunity.""Thanks, old boy," was Robert's answer, as he squeezed his hand.No more was spoken for a time. Both men examined the hulk carefully,and then came away, and sat again on a sand hill.Presently a coastguard came along, with his telescope under hisarm. Tom entered into conversation with him about the wreck."Well, sir," he said, "that was afore my time here. I've beenhere only about a year, and that's there a matter o' fifteen yearor thereabouts. She came ashore here in the great storm when the'Mallard' was lost in the Scillies. I've heerd tell" -Robert interrupted him to ask -"Did anyone ever try what was in her?""Well, sir, there I'm out. By rights there should, but I've bintold that about then there was a lawsuit on as to who the shorebelonged to. The ship lay in the line between the Ballast Board groundand the Manor ground, or whatever it is, and so nothin' could be donetill the suit was ended, and when it was there weren't much use lookin'for anything, for she was settled nigh as low as she is now, and ifthere ever was anything worth havin' in her the salt water had ruinedit long ago.""Then she was never examined?" said Tom."Most like not, sir; they don't never examine little ships likeher - if she was a big one we might," and the coastguard departed.When he was gone Tom said, "By Jove, he forgot to say on whoseground she is," and he ran after him to ask the question. When he cameback he said, "It's all right; it belongs to Sir Arthur Forres."After watching for some time in silence Robert said, "Tom, I havevery strange thoughts about this. Let us get leave from Sir Arthur -he is, I believe, a very generous man - and regularly explore.""Done," said Tom, and, it being now late, they returned to town.Chapter II - Wind and TideRobert and Tom next day wrote a letter to Sir Arthur Forres asking himto let them explore the ship, and by return of post got a kind answer,not only granting the required permission, but making over the wholeship to them to do what they pleased with. Accordingly they held aconsultation as to the best means of proceeding, and agreed to commenceoperations as soon as possible, as it was now well on in December, andevery advance of winter would throw new obstacles in their way. Next daythey bought some tools, and brought them home in great glee. It oftenoccurred to both of them that they were setting out on the wildest ofwild-goose chases, but the novelty and excitement of the whole affairalways overcame their scruples. The first moonlight night that camethey took their tools, and sallied out to Dollymount to make the firsteffort on their treasure ship. So intent were they on their object thattheir immediate surroundings did not excite their attention. It was not,therefore, till they arrived at the summit of the sand hill, from whichthey had first seen the hulk, that they discovered that the tide wascoming in, and had advanced about half way. The knowledge was like acold bath to each of them, for here were all their hopes dashed to theground, for an indefinite time at least. It might be far into the wintertime - perhaps months - before they could get a union of tide, moonlight,and fair weather, such as alone could make their scheme practicable.They had already tried to get leave from office, but so great was thepress of business that their employer told them that unless they hadspecial business, which they could name, he could not dispense withtheir services. To name their object would be to excite ridicule, andas the whole affair was but based on a chimera they were of coursesilent.They went home sadder than they had left it, and next day, by acareful study of the almanac, made out a list of the nights which mightsuit their purpose - if moon and weather proved favourable. From thefact of their living in their employer's house their time was furthercurtailed, for it was an inflexible rule that by twelve o'clock everyoneshould be home. Therefore, the only nights which could suit were thosefrom the 11th to the 15th December, on which there would be low waterbetween the hours of seven and eleven. This would give them on eachnight about one hour in which to work, for that length of time only wasthe wreck exposed between the ebbing and flowing tides.They waited in anxiety for the 11th December, the weather continuedbeautifully fine, and nearly every night the two friends walked toview the scene of their future operations. Robert was debarred fromvisiting Ellen by her father's direction, and so was glad to have someobject of interest to occupy his thoughts whilst away from her.As the time wore on, the weather began to change, and Robert andTom grew anxious. The wind began to blow in short sharp gusts, whichwhirled the sodden dead leaves angrily about exposed corners, and onthe seaboard sent the waves shorewards topped with angry crests. Mistyclouds came drifting hurriedly over the sea, and at times the fogbecame so thick that it was hardly possible to see more than a fewyards ahead, still the young men continued to visit their treasureevery night. At first, the coastguards had a watchful eye on them,noticing which they unfolded their purpose and showed Sir Arthur'sletter making the ship over to their hands.The sailors treated the whole affair as a good joke, but stillpromised to do what they could to help them, in the good-humouredway which is their special charm. A certain fear had for some timehaunted the two friends - a fear which neither of them had everspoken out. From brooding so much as they did on their adventure,they came to think, or rather to feel, that the ship which forfifteen years had been unnoticed and untouched in the sand, hadsuddenly acquired as great an interest in the eyes of all the worldas of themselves. Accordingly, they thought that some evil-designingperson might try to cut them out of their adventure by forestallingthem in searching the wreck. Their fear was dispelled by the kindlypromise of the coastguards not to let anyone meddle with the vesselwithout their permission. As the weather continued to get more andmore broken, the very disappointment of their hopes, which the breakthreatened served to enlarge those hopes, and when on the night ofthe tenth they heard a wild storm howling round the chimneys, asthey lay in bed, each was assured in his secret heart that the oldwreck contained such a treasure as the world had seldom seen.Seven o'clock next night saw them on the shore of the Bull lookingout into the pitchy darkness. The wind was blowing so strongly inshorethat the waves were driven high beyond their accustomed line at thesame state of the tide, and the channels were running like mill-dams.As each wave came down over the flat shore it was broke up into a massof foam and spray, and the wind swept away the spume until on shore itfell like rain. Far along the sandy shore was heard the roaring ofthe waves, hoarsely bellowing, so that hearing the sound we could wellimagine how the district got its quaint name.On such a night it would have been impossible to have worked atthe wreck, even could the treasure-seekers have reached it, or couldthey have even found it in the pitchy darkness. They waited some time,but seeing that it was in vain, they sadly departed homeward, hopingfondly that the next evening would prove more propitious.Vain were their hopes. The storm continued for two whole days,for not one moment of which, except between the pauses of the rushingor receding waves, was the wreck exposed. Seven o'clock each nightsaw the two young men looking over the sand-hills, waiting in the vainhope of a chance of visiting the vessel, hoping against hope thata sudden calm would give the opportunity they wished. When the stormbegan to abate their hopes were proportionally raised, and on themorning of the 14th when they awoke and could not hear the windwhistling through the chimneys next their attic, they grew againsanguine of success. That night they went to the Bull in hope, andcame home filled with despair. Although the storm had ceased, the seawas still rough. Great, heavy, sullen waves, sprayless, but crestedominously, from ridges of foam, came rolling into the bay, swellingonward with great speed and resistless force, and bursting over theshallow waste of sand so violently that even any attempt to reach thewreck was out of the question. As Robert and Tom hurried homeward -they had waited to the latest moment on the Bull, and feared beinglate - they felt spiritless and dejected. But one more eveningremained on which they might possibly visit the wreck, and theyfeared that even should wind and tide be suitable one hour would notdo to explore it. However, youth is never without hope, and nextmorning they both had that sanguine feeling which is the outcome ofdespair - the feeling that the tide of fortune must sometime turn,and that the loser as well as the winner has his time. As they nearedthe Bull that night their hearts beat so loud that they could almosthear them. They felt that there was ground for hope. All the way fromtown they could see the great flats opposite Clontarf lying black inthe moonlight, and they thought that over the sands the same calmmust surely rest. But, alas, they did not allow for the fact that twogreat breakwaters protect the harbour, but that the sands of the Bullare open to all the storms that blow - that the great Atlantic billows,broken up on the northern and southern coasts, yet still strong enoughto be feared, sweep up and down the Channel, and beat with every tideinto the harbours and bays along the coast. Accordingly, on reachingthe sand-hills, they saw what dashed their hopes at once.The moon rose straight before them beyond the Bailey Lighthouse,and the broad belt of light which stretched from it passed over thetreasure-ship. The waves, now black, save where the light caught thesloping sides, lay blank, but ever and anon as they passed on farover their usual range, the black hull rose among the gleams of light.There was not a chance that the wreck could be attempted, and so theywent sadly home - remembering the fact that the night of the 24thDecember was the earliest time at which they could again renew theireffort.Chapter III - The Iron ChestThe days that intervened were long to both men.To Robert they were endless; even the nepenthe of continued hardwork could not quiet his mind. Distracted on one side by his forbiddenlove for Ellen, and on the other by the expected fortune by which hemight win her, he could hardly sleep at night. When he did sleep healways dreamed, and in his dreams Ellen and the wreck were alwaysassociated. At one time his dream would be of unqualified good fortune -a vast treasure found and shared with his love; at another, all wouldbe gloom, and in the search for the treasure he would endanger hislife, or, what was far greater pain, forfeit her love.However, it is one consolation, that, whatever else may happen inthe world, time wears on without ceasing, and the day longest expectedcomes at last.On the evening of the 24th December, Tom and Robert took their wayto Dollymount in breathless excitement.As they passed through town, and saw the vast concourse of peopleall intent on one common object - the preparation for the greatest ofall Christian festivals - the greatest festival, which is kept allover the world, wherever the True Light has fallen, they could not butfeel a certain regret that they, too, could not join in the throng.Robert's temper was somewhat ruffled by seeing Ellen leaning on thearm of Tomlinson, looking into a brilliantly-lighted shop window,so intently, that she did not notice him passing. When they had leftthe town, and the crowds, and the overflowing stalls, and brilliantholly-decked shops, they did not so much mind, but hurried on.So long as they were within city bounds, and even whilst therewere brightly-lit shop windows, all seemed light enough. When, however,they were so far from town as to lose the glamour of the lamplight inthe sky overhead, they began to fear that the night would indeed betoo dark for work.They were prepared for such an emergency, and when they stood onthe slope of sand, below the dunnes, they lit a dark lantern andprepared to cross the sands. After a few moments they found that thelantern was a mistake. They saw the ground immediately before them sofar as the sharp triangle of light, whose apex was the bulls-eye,extended, but beyond this the darkness rose like a solid black wall.They closed the lantern, but this was even worse, for after leaving thelight, small though it was, their eyes were useless in the completedarkness. It took them nearly an hour to reach the wreck.At last they got to work, and with hammer and chisel and sawcommenced to open the treasure ship.The want of light told sorely against them, and their workprogressed slowly despite their exertions. All things have an end,however, and in time they had removed several planks so as to form ahole some four feet wide, by six long - one of the timbers crossedthis; but as it was not in the middle, and left a hole large enoughto descend by, it did not matter.It was with beating hearts that the two young men slanted thelantern so as to turn the light in through the aperture. All withinwas black, and not four feet below them was a calm glassy pool ofwater that seemed like ink. Even as they looked this began slowlyto rise, and they saw that the tide had turned, and that but a fewminutes more remained. They reached down as far as they could,plunging their arms up to their shoulders in the water, but couldfind nothing. Robert stood up and began to undress."What are you going to do?" said Tom."Going to dive - it is the only chance we have."Tom did not hinder him, but got the piece of rope they had broughtwith them and fastened it under Robert's shoulders and grasped theother end firmly. Robert arranged the lamp so as to throw the light asmuch downwards as possible, and then, with a silent prayer, let himselfdown through the aperture and hung on by the beam. The water was deadlycold - so cold, that, despite the fever heat to which he was broughtthrough excitement, he felt chilled. Nevertheless he did not hesitate,but, letting go the beam, dropped into the black water."For Ellen," he said, as he disappeared.In a quarter of a minute he appeared again, gasping, and with aconvulsive effort climbed the short rope, and stood beside his friend."Well?" asked Tom, excitedly."Oh-h-h-h! good heavens, I am chilled to the heart. I went downabout six feet, and then touched a hard substance. I felt round it, andso far as I can tell it is a barrel. Next to it was a square corner ofa box, and further still something square made of iron.""How do you know it is iron?""By the rust. Hold the rope again, there is no time to lose; thetide is rising every minute, and we will soon have to go."Again he went into the black water and this time stayed longer.Tom began to be frightened at the delay, and shook the rope for himto ascend. The instant after he appeared with face almost black withsuffused blood. Tom hauled at the rope, and once more he stood on thebottom of the vessel. This time he did not complain of the cold. Heseemed quivering with a great excitement that overcame the cold. Whenhe had recovered his breath he almost shouted out -"There's something there. I know it - I feel it.""Anything strange?" asked Tom, in fierce excitement."Yes, the iron box is heavy - so heavy that I could not stir it.I could easily lift the end of the cask, and two or three other boxes,but I could not stir it."Whilst he was speaking, both heard a queer kind of hissing noise,and looking down in alarm saw the water running into the pool aroundthe vessel. A few minutes more and they would be cut off from shoreby some of the tidal streams. Tom cried out:"Quick, quick! or we shall be late. We must put down the beamsbefore the tide rises or it will wash the hold full of sand."Without waiting even to dress, Robert assisted him and they placedthe planks on their original position and secured them with a fewstrong nails. Then they rushed away for shore. When they had reachedthe sand-hill, Robert, despite his exertions, was so chilled that hewas unable to put on his clothes.To bathe and stay naked for half an hour on a December night isno joke.Tom drew his clothes on him as well as he could, and after addinghis overcoat and giving him a pull from the flask, he was somethingbetter. They hurried away, and what with exercise, excitement, andhope were glowing when they reached home.Before going to bed they held a consultation as to what was bestto be done. Both wished to renew their attempt as they could begin athalf-past seven o'clock; for although the morrow was Christmas Day,they knew that any attempt to rescue goods from the wreck should bemade at once. There were now two dangers to be avoided - rough weatherand the drifting of the sand - and so they decided that not a momentwas to be lost.At the daybreak they were up, and the first moment that saw thewreck approachable found them wading out towards it. This time theywere prepared for wet and cold. They had left their clothes on thebeach and put on old ones, which, even if wet, would still keep offthe wind, for a strong, fitful breeze was now blowing in eddies, andthe waves were beginning to rise ominously. With beating hearts theyexamined the closed-up gap; and, as they looked, their hopes fell.One of the timbers had been lifted off by the tide, and from thedeposit of sand in the crevices, they feared that much must havefound its way in. They had brought several strong pieces of ropewith them, for their effort to-day was to be to lift out the ironchest, which both fancied contained a treasure.Robert prepared himself to descend again. He tied one rope roundhis waist, as before, and took the other in his hands. Tom waitedbreathlessly till he returned. He was a long time coming up, and rosewith his teeth chattering, but had the rope no longer with him. Hetold Tom that he had succeeded in putting it under the chest. Thenhe went down again with the other rope, and when he rose the secondtime, said that he had put it under also, but crossing the first. Hewas so chilled that he was unable to go down a third time. Indeed, hewas hardly able to stand so cold did he seem; and it was with muchshrinking of spirit that his friend prepared to descend to make theropes fast, for he knew that should anything happen to him Robertcould not help him up. This did not lighten his task or serve to cheerhis spirits as he went down for the first time into the black water.He took two pieces of rope; his intention being to tie Robert's ropesround the chest, and then bring the spare ends up. When he rose hetold Robert that he had tied one of the ropes round the box, but hadnot time to tie the others. He was so chilled that he could not ventureto go down again, and so both men hurriedly closed the gap as well asthey could, and went on shore to change their clothes. When they haddressed, and got tolerably warm, the tide had begun to turn, and sothey went home, longing for the evening to come, when they might makethe final effort.Chapter IV - Lost and FoundTom was to dine with some relatives where he was living. When he wasleaving Robert he said to him, "Well, Bob, seven o'clock, sharp.""Tom, do not forget or be late. Mind, I trust you.""Never fear, old boy. Nothing short of death shall keep me away;but if I should happen not to turn up do not wait for me. I will bewith you in spirit if I cannot be in the flesh.""Tom, don't talk that way. I don't know what I should do if youdidn't come. It may be all a phantom we're after, but I do not liketo think so. It seems so much to me.""All right, old man," said Tom, cheerily, "I shan't fail - seveno'clock," and he was gone.Robert was in a fever all day. He went to the church where he knewhe would see Ellen, and get a smile from her in passing. He did get asmile, and a glance from her lovely dark eyes which said as plainlyas if she had spoken the words with her sweet lips, "How long youhave been away; you never come to see me now." This set Robert's heartbounding, but it increased his fever. "How would it be," he thought,"if the wreck turned out a failure, and the iron box a deception? If Icannot get £100 those dark eyes will have to look sweet things to someother man; that beautiful mouth to whisper in the ears of some onewho would not - could not - love her half so well as I do."He could not bear to meet her, so when service was over he hurriedaway. When she came out her eyes were beaming, for she expected tosee Robert waiting for her. She looked anxiously, but could only seeMr. Tomlinson, who did not rise in her favour for appearing just then.Robert had to force himself to eat his dinner. Every morselalmost choked him, but he knew that strength was necessary for hisundertaking, and so compelled himself to eat. As the hour of sevenapproached he began to get fidgety. He went often to the window, butcould see no sign of Tom. Seven o'clock struck, but no Tom came. Hebegan to be alarmed. Tom's words seemed to ring in his ears, "nothingshort of death shall keep me away." He waited a little while interrible anxiety, but then bethought him of his companion's otherwords, "if I should not happen to turn up do not wait for me," andknowing that whether he waited or no the tide would still come in allthe same, and his chance of getting out the box would pass away,determined to set out alone. His determination was strengthened bythe fact that the gusty wind of the morning had much increased, andsometimes swept along laden with heavy clinging mist that bespokea great fog bank somewhere behind the wind.Till he had reached the very shore of the "Bull" he did not giveup hopes of Tom, for he thought it just possible that he might havebeen delayed, and instead of increasing the delay by going home, hadcome on straight to the scene of operation.There was, however, no help for it; as Tom had not come he shouldwork alone. With misgivings he prepared himself. He left his clotheson the top of a sand-hill, put on the old ones he had brought withhim, took his tools, ropes, and lantern, and set out. There was causefor alarm. The wind was rising, and it whistled in his ears as thegusts swept past. Far away in the darkness the sea was beginning toroar on the edge of the flats, and the mist came driving inland insheets like the spume from a cataract. The water in the tidal streamsas he waded across them beat against his legs and seemed cold as ice.Although now experienced in the road, he had some difficulty infinding the wreck, but at length reached it and commenced operations.He had taken the precaution of bringing with him a second suitof old clothes and an oilskin coat. His first care was to fix thelamp where the wind could not harm it; his second, to raise theplanks, and expose the interior of the wreck. Then he prepared hisropes, and, having undressed once again, went beneath the water tofasten the second rope. This he accomplished safely, and let theknot of it be on the opposite side to where the first rope was tied.He then ascended and dressed himself in all his clothes to keep himwarm. He then cut off a portion in another plank, so as to exposea second one of the ship's timbers. Round this he tied one of theropes, keeping it as taut as he could. He took a turn of the otherrope round the other beam and commenced to pull. Little by littlehe raised the great chest from its position, and when he had raisedit all he could he made that rope fast and went to the other.By attacking the ropes alternately he raised the chest, so thathe could feel from its situation that it hung suspended in the water.Then he began to shake the ropes till the chest swung like a pendulum.He held firmly both ropes, having a turn of each round its beam, andeach time the weight swung he gained a little rope. So he worked onlittle by little, till at last, to his infinite joy, he saw the topof the box rise above the water. His excitement then changed tofrenzy. His strength redoubled, and, as faster and faster the boxswung, he gained more and more rope, and raised it higher and higher,till at last it ceased to rise, and he found he had reached themaximum height attainable by this means. As, however, it was nownearly up he detached a long timber, and using it as a lever, slowly,after repeated failures, prized up the chest through the gap tillit reached the bottom of the ship, and then, toppling over, fell witha dull thud upon the sand.With a cry of joy Robert jumped down after it, but in jumping liton the edge of it and wrenched his ankle so severely that when he roseup and attempted to stand on it it gave way under him, and he fellagain. He managed, however, to crawl out of the hulk, and reachedhis lantern. The wind by this time was blowing louder and louder, andthe mist was gathering in white masses, and sweeping by, mingled withsleet. In endeavouring to guard the lantern from the wind he slippedonce more on the wet timbers, and fell down, striking his leg againstthe sharp edge of the chest. So severe was the pain that for a fewmoments he became almost insensible, and when he recovered his sensesfound he was quite unable to stir.The lantern had fallen in a pool of water, and had of course goneout. It was a terrible situation, and Robert's heart sank within him,as well it might, as he thought of what was to come. The wind wasrapidly rising to a storm, and swept by him, laden with the deadlymist in fierce gusts. The roaring of the tide grew nearer and nearer,and louder and louder. Overhead was a pall of darkness, save when inthe leaden winter sky some white pillar of mist swept onward likean embodied spirit of the storm. All the past began to crowd Robert'smemory, and more especially the recent past. He thought of his friend'swords - "Nothing short of death shall keep me away," and so full ofdismal shadows, and forms of horror was all the air, that he could wellfancy that Tom was dead, and that his spirit was circling round him,wailing through the night. Then again, arose the memory of his dream,and his very heart stood still, as he thought of how awfully it hadbeen fulfilled. There he now lay; not in a dream, but in reality,beside a ship on a waste of desert sand. Beside him lay a chest suchas he had seen in his dreams, and, as before, death seemed flappinghis giant wings over his head. Strange horrors seemed to gather roundhim, borne on the wings of the blast. His father, whom he had neverseen, he felt to be now beside him. All the dead that he had everknown circled round him in a weird dance. As the stormy gusts sweptby, he heard amid their screams the lugubrious tolling of bells; bellsseemed to be all around him; whichever way he turned he heard hisknell. All forms were gathered there, as in his dreams - all saveEllen. But hark! even as the thought flashed across his brain; hisears seemed to hear her voice as one hears in a dream. He tried tocry out, but was so overcome by cold, that he could barely hear hisown voice. He tried to rise, but in vain, and then, overcome by painand excitement, and disappointed hope, he became insensible.Was his treasure-hunting to end thus?As Mr. Stedman and Ellen was sitting down to tea that evening, ArthurTomlinson being the only other guest, a hurried knock came to thecottage door. The little servant came into the room a moment after,looking quite scared, and holding a letter in her hand. She came overto Ellen and faltered out, "Oh, please, miss, there's a man from thehospital, and he says as how you're to open the letter and to come atonce; it's a matter of life and death."Ellen grew white as a sheet, and stood up quickly, trembling asshe opened the letter. Mr. Stedman rose up, too. Arthur Tomlinson satstill, and glared at the young servant till, thinking she had donesomething wrong, she began to cry. The letter was from the doctor ofthe hospital, written for Tom, and praying her to come at once, asthe latter had something to tell her of the greatest import to one forwhom he was sure she would do much. She immediately ran and put onher cloak, and asked her father to come with her."Surely you won't go?" said Tomlinson."What else should I do?" she asked, scornfully; "I must apologisefor leaving you, unless you will come with us.""No, thank you; I am not a philanthropist."In half an hour they had reached the hospital, and had heard Tom'sstory. Poor fellow, when hurrying home to Robert, he had been knockeddown by a car and had his leg broken. As soon as he could he had sentword to Ellen, for he feared for Robert being out alone at the wreck,knowing how chilled he had been on the previous night, and he thoughtthat if any one would send him aid Ellen would.No sooner had the story been told, and Ellen had understood thedanger Robert was in, than with her father she hurried off to the"Bull."They got a car with some difficulty, and drove as fast as the horsecould go, and arriving at the "Bull," called to the coastguard-station.None of the coastguards had seen Robert that evening, but on learningof his possible danger all that were in the station at once turned out.They wrapped Ellen and her father in oilskins, and, taking lanterns andropes, set out for the wreck. They all knew its position, and went asstraight for it as they could, and, as they crossed the sandhills,found Robert's clothes. At this they grew very grave. They wanted toleave Ellen on the shore, but she refused point blank. By this time thestorm was blowing wildly, and the roaring of the sea being borne onthe storm was frightful to hear. The tidal streams were running deeperthan usual, and there was some difficulty in crossing to the wreck.In the mist the men lost their way a little, and could not tellexactly how far to go. They shouted as loudly as they could, but therewas no reply. Ellen's terror grew into despair. She too, shouted,although fearing that to shout in the teeth of such a wind her woman'svoice would be of no avail. However, her clear soprano rang out louderthan the hoarse shouts of the sturdy sailors, and cleft the storm likea wedge. Twice or thrice she cried, "Robert, Robert, Robert," butstill there was no reply. Suddenly she stopped, and, bending her head,cried joyfully, "He is there, he is there; I hear his voice," andcommenced running as fast as she could through the darkness towardsthe raging sea. The coastguards called out to her to mind where she wasgoing, and followed her with the lanterns as fast as they could run.When they came up with her they found her sitting on an ironchest close to the wreck, with Robert resting on her knees, and hishead pillowed on her breast. He had opened his eyes, and was faintlywhispering, "Ellen, my love, my love. It was to win you I risked mylife."She bent and kissed him, even there among rough sailors, and then,amid the storm, she whispered softly, "It was not risked in vain."

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