he boys' impressionable minds.

"What are you thinking about, boys? Have you had enough excitement for
one day?"

George was the first to reply: "I have been thinking about what we ought
to do with the gold."

"Why the gold? I have been thinking of the boat."

"Do you think we ought to leave the gold there? Isn't that of more
importance than the boat?"

"I do not think so, George; we can use the boat to good advantage, but
where can you utilize the gold?"

"But why would it not be a good idea to get it out and take it over to
the Cataract?"

"I should advise against that very strongly."

"What are your reasons?"

"Suppose we should be attacked at the Cataract and find the home
untenable; this place would be a safe retreat, and we should, in any
event, have our treasure here in safety. It has been secure for the last
century or so. I think it will keep for a few months more."

"It had never occurred to me that we could use this place for such a
purpose. That is a capital idea. And did you have this in mind all
along, Professor?"

"Yes."

After a time, when the subjects had been fully discussed, it was decided
to try to bring the boat out by the new entrance, and after making all
the measurements, ample room was found for this. They returned and
carried and dragged it to the opening, and after some labor it was
finally pushed through the opening, and when the ropes were attached it
was lowered down the hillside, and dragged to a position where it could
be taken by the team.

"You should go for the team now, and I will continue the explorations
until you return," and so saying, the Professor went up the hill and
entered the cave, leaving one of the lights at the opening.

The boys went back to the mouth of the cave and found the team, as well
as Red Angel, who had remained there, and within a half hour were back
again to the land entrance. The light was still where the Professor had
placed it, and the boys at once entered the passageway, and went down
the steps leading to the pirates' chamber.

All the bones of the skeletons had been removed from the passageway,
where George had fallen, but the other skeletons were in the same place
originally seen when they discovered the remains.

The Professor was not in sight, nor did they see any glimmer of his
light.

It was he, undoubtedly, who had removed the bones from the passageway,
but they did not stop to notice where they were deposited. When they
firs