sted if Bill had not come to him it is impossible
to say; perhaps long enough to have allowed his candle to be
extinguished. Had this happened, he would never have been able to find
his way out of the cavern. He, however, with Bill by his side, soon
felt like himself again.

"Let me just fill my pockets with these gold pieces," he exclaimed. "I
have taken so much trouble that I shouldn't like to go away without
them."

"Perhaps the ghost will come back if you do," Bill could not help
saying. "Let them alone. You have got enough already, and we must not
stop another moment here."

Saying this, he dragged Jack on by the arm.

"Come, if we don't make haste, our candles will go out, and we shall not
be able to see our way," Bill continued.

Jack moved on. He was always ready to be led by Bill, and began to
think that he had better not have come for the gold.

Bill did not scold him, vexed as he felt at the delay which had
occurred. They might still be in time to get on board the wreck and to
launch their raft, but it would be broad daylight before they could get
to any distance from the shore, and they would then be sure to be seen.
Bill only hoped that no one would think it worth while to follow them.

Having two lights, they were able to see their way pretty well, though
they could not run fast for fear of extinguishing them.

Every now and then Jack showed an inclination to stop. "I wish I had
got the gold," he muttered.

Bill pulled him on.

"The gold, I say, would not do us any good. I don't want it for myself,
and you have got enough to make your mother independent for the rest of
her days."

On they went again. Bill was thankful, on reaching the mouth of the
cavern, to find that it was still night. It seemed to him a long time
since he had quitted the wreck. He did not remember how fast he had
gone. They jumped down on the beach, and began to wade towards the
wreck, but had to swim some distance.

"If we had had our pockets full of gold we could not have done this,"
observed Bill. "We should have had to empty them or be drowned. We are
much better without it."

They soon reached the side of the vessel, and climbed up on deck. There
was plenty of water alongside to launch the raft, and to get the casks
under it. The wind, too, if there were any, was off shore, but here it
was a perfect calm. They had one advantage through having waited so
long; they were beyond the influence of the w