r market value; then there is all that
collection of silver table-service, which you can take by weight; and,
besides, lots of rare furniture, which you may set your own price
upon--altogether much more than enough to pay Moreno and you both. What
say you, _compadre_? is it a bargain? or shall I carry the stuff with
me, and run the chance of disposing of it on the Spanish Main?"

It was a long time before the crafty old Spaniard could make up his mind
whether to receive his pay in a simple portable currency, or take more
bulky matter, with the hope of making double the money by the operation.
Finally, however, his greed overcame his prudence, and he accepted the
last proposition, with the understanding that the articles should be
transferred to the felucca the next night.

"Ah!" said Captain Brand, with another sniff of disgust, as he spat on
the dirty floor of the cabin, "I am glad the affair is settled, for I
wouldn't remain another hour in this filthy hole for all the money you
have cheated me out of, you old rascal."

He said the last portion of this sentence to himself as he emerged from
the cuddy.

"But listen, _amigo_!" he continued, as they both reached the deck. "You
will give me duplicate receipts on the part of Senor Moreno, so that I
can forward one to him from the next port I visit. And, by the way,
suppose you come on shore this afternoon for a stroll, and in the
evening we will have a little game of _monte_--eh?"

"_Cierto!_ (certainly!)" returned the commander of the felucca; when
Captain Brand, with his bag of gold intact under his arm, got into his
boat and was pulled to the shore.

CHAPTER XXI.

TREASURE.

"Gold! gold! gold! gold!
Bright and yellow, hard and cold,
Molten, graven, hammered, and rolled;
Heavy to get, and light to hold;
Hoarded, bartered, bought, and sold;
Stolen, borrowed, squandered, doled;
Price of many a crime untold--
Gold! gold! gold! gold!"

It was long past noon when the pirate returned to his island home, and
the day was hot, for the sea-breeze had not made, and the tropical sun
was pouring down its burning rays until the sand was roasting as in a
furnace; the very rocks throwing off a trembling mirage of heated air,
and the lagoon almost boiling under the fiery influence. The sailors,
with aching heads and parched mouths, were swinging in their grass
hammocks beneath the sheds; and, save the watchful vigilance of the men
at