," replied the mate, in a reproving tone, "see the emptiness
of riches, and how little they can do to satisfy the cravings of the
human heart. There is enough wealth there at your feet to make you and
me independently rich for life, and yet you complain because you have
so little."

"It was wrong," said the captain, meekly. "I am in such a nervous
condition that I'm hardly myself. I am truly grateful for what we have
here, and glad that we made the long voyage to secure them. We have
enough--to crave more is wicked."

They now set to work opening the shells between which were nestling
the pearls, and the result was simply astonishing. It was hard work to
get some of the thick, ridgy bivalves apart, but when they succeeded
they rarely failed to be rewarded munificently. Some of the pearls
were small, the majority large, and about twenty of enormous size and
clearness. When the entire lot was placed in a little pile, there were
found to be one hundred and twenty-odd; and, although it was
impossible to estimate their value, Mate Storms--who was the better
informed--believed they were worth at least a quarter of a million of
dollars. All these had been taken in a few hours, though the
preparations and the voyage thither had occupied many long, long
months.

"I think I will go down and take a farewell look," said Abe, when the
task was finished. "I have a suspicion that I may have missed
something."

"I am quite sure you have," replied the captain, assisting him with
his armor; "and you have but a short time at your disposal, either,
for I think a storm is brewing."

This time the mate meant to proceed differently. In descending along
the rocks the first time, he paused to break off some of the clusters,
and he thought he caught the shadowy glimpse of an enormous oyster,
further in; but there were so many closer at hand, and he was so
excited--despite his natural coolness--that he forgot about it until
now, when he determined to look further, half hoping, more than
believing, that it might possess a still larger pearl than any he had
seen. He was confident that this was the only one he had missed, for
the search he made during his last descent, in other respects, was
thorough and left nothing to be done over again.

Carefully he sank into the depths of the ocean, with one hand grasping
the rope, ready to give the signal to stop lowering the instant it
should become necessary. He passed several yawning crevices in the