ck had, but that he had not wished to touch it.

"Then you give it to us, my young friend," said Captain Turgot; "where
is the difference?"

"No! I only tell you of it, that you may act as you think right. If
you find out the owners, I hope you will restore it to them; but, at all
events, it's Frenchmen's money, and a Frenchman has more right to it
than I have."

Captain Turgot did not quite understand Bill's principles, though
perhaps Jeannette and Pierre did.

"Well, well, my young friend, if go you must, I will not detain you.
You and your companion will run a great risk of losing your lives, and I
wish you would remain with us. To-morrow, as soon as the tide is out,
Pierre and I will visit the cavern, which, I think, from your
description, we can find; and we will take lanterns and torches. Again
I say I wish you would wait, and if there is a prize to be obtained,
that you would share it with us."

Jeannette and Pierre also pressed Bill to remain, but he was firm in his
resolution of rejoining Jack, and setting off at once.

He was so proud of the raft they had made, that he would have been ready
to go round the world on it, if it could be got to sail on a wind, and
at all events he had not the slightest doubt about its fitness to carry
him and Jack across the Channel.

Bill had already delayed longer than he intended, and once more bidding
his friends good-bye, he set off for the wreck. He hurried along as
fast as he could go, for he felt sure that at daybreak it would be seen,
if not from the shore, from the sea, and that people would come and
interfere with his and Jack's proceedings.

As he knew the way thoroughly, he made good progress. On getting
abreast of the wreck, he looked out for Jack, but could nowhere see him.

The water was already coming round the vessel, and in a short time would
be too deep to wade through. He thought that Jack must have gone below,
but he was afraid of giving a loud shout, lest his voice might be heard.
He accordingly, without stopping, made his way on board.

Great was his alarm when he could nowhere discover Jack.

Could he have gone to the cavern? or could he have been carried off?

The latter was not probable, for had the stranded vessel been
discovered, people would have remained in her.

"He must have gone to the cavern, and to save time, I must follow him,"
he said to himself; and sliding down the rope, he made his way as fast
as he could towards its m