open the door of the fatal
cupboard, and had thrust in head and shoulders, exploring.

"There's a loose piece of flooring here, Mr Pamphlett. New, by the
looks of it."

There was a sound of boards being shaken and thrown together in a
heap.

"Queer old cache here below. . . . Steady, now . . . wait till I turn
my bull's-eye on it! Lucky I brought the lantern, too!"

"You dare!" screamed Nicky-Nan, rushing to pull him backward by the
collar.

The constable, his head in the bowels of the hiding-place, neither
heard him nor saw Mr Pamphlett and Builder Gilbert interpose to hold
Nicky-Nan back.

"But 'tis empty," announced Policeman Rat-it-all.

"Empty?"

EMPTY?

Nicky-Nan, bursting from the two men, gripped Rat-it-all by the
collar, flung him back on the floor, snatched his bull's-eye, and
diving as a rabbit into its burrow, plunged the lantern's ray into
the gulf.

Rat-it-all had spoken truth. The treasure--every coin of it--had
vanished!

Nicky-Nan's head dropped sideways and rattled on the boards.

CHAPTER XXII.

SALVAGE.

"Mister Nanjivell! Mis-ter Nanjivell!"

It was the child 'Beida's voice, calling from below.

"Are you upstairs, Mister Nanjivell? I want to see you--in _such_ a
hurry!"

Following up her summons, she arrived panting at the open doorway.
"O-oh!" she cried, after a catch of the breath. Her face blanched as
she looked around the bedroom; at Builder Gilbert, standing, wash-jug
in hand; at Mr Pamphlett, kneeling, examining the cupboard; at
Policeman Rat-it-all, kneeling also, but on one knee, while on the
other he supported Nicky-Nan's inert head and bathed a cut on the
right temple, dipping a rag of a towel into the poor chipped basin on
the ground beside him.

"What are you doin' to him?" demanded 'Beida, her colour coming back
with a rush.

Mr Pamphlett had slewed about on his knees. "Here, you cut and run!"
he commanded sharply. But his posture did not lend itself to
authority, and he showed some embarrassment.

"What are you doin' to him?" the child demanded again.

"He've had a fit," explained Builder Gilbert, holding out the ewer.
"Here, run downstairs and fetch up some more water, if you want to be
useful."

'Beida stared at the ewer. She transferred her gaze to Rat-it-all
and his patient: then, after a shiver, to Mr Pamphlett. She had
courage. Her eyes grew hard and fierce.

"Is that why Mr Pamphlett's pokin' his nose into a cupboard?"

"Rat