CHAPTER XXXI
THE TREASURE AT LAST—CONCLUSION
Little dreaming of the accident which had overtaken their rivals, Amos Fearless and Dave returned to their own diving bell.
The heart of each was heavy, and for several minutes neither felt like speaking.
"A wild-goose chase," said the old diver at last. "I might have known it would prove so."
"But what has become of the gold?" returned Dave. "It couldn't walk off of itself."
"That is true. Perhaps those on board of the Happy Hour took it off, when they found the ship was about to sink."
"But they never brought any of the treasure to land."
"No—at least, none that was reported. They might have done such a thing in secret."
"Supposing we move the bell around and make another search," suggested Dave. "The demons appear to have vanished."
They pumped in a fresh supply of air and then moved around in a large circle.
It was hard work, and the confinement of the diving bell gave each a headache and a strange ringing in the ears.
Presently they came to a curiously shaped mound of shells, covered with moss.
"Hullo, what's this?" said Dave. "Hang me if it doesn't look like the home of some submarine animal. Perhaps it's a meeting house for those demons."
"If it is, we had better move on," replied Amos Fearless, in the sign language.
But Dave was curious to investigate, and presently they replaced their helmets, took in some fresh air, and sallied forth to examine the mound.
Inside all was damp—a dampness different from that produced by the water around them.
The mound proved to be hollow, with the walls covered with brilliant seashells of all colors.
At the top was a round hole to admit light.
In the center was a smaller mound, with a curious hump in the middle.
"Nothing here," signed Amos Fearless, when of a sudden something glittering caught Dave's eye.
He stooped and picked up—a gold coin!
In a moment he was digging away at the small mound in the center of the shell-like structure.
The moss came away readily, and to their gaze was disclosed—a heap of shining gold!
"The treasure!" burst from the young diver. "Found at last!"
His father was equally pleased.
The gold was mixed with bits of other bright metal and glass, for whoever had stored it there had known no difference in value and had simply made a collection of stuff bright to the eye.
"Let us go back and fill up the diving bell," said Amos Fearless, by signs.
Dave was more than willing, and they soon had the diving bell as close as possible to the door of the mound.
They had brought several bags along, and into these they began heaping the gold.
It was hard work, but this they did not mind.
The finding of the treasure meant to them a lifetime of leisure, had they a mind to take it.
At last the bags were full and still more of the gold remained.
"We will pile it on the floor of the diving bell," signed Amos Fearless. "Let us make one trip of it. After this I never wish to visit the bottom of the sea again."
Both worked steadily, and in half an hour had every piece of gold in sight picked up.
They were just taking the last of the gold to the diving bell when a horrible roar broke upon their ears.
The demons of the deep were returning to the locality.
"Quick!" cried Dave. "Or it will be all up with us!"
Father and son ran for the diving bell.
But now the demons saw them and the roar increased.
Soon fully fifty of the ferocious creatures were leaping and swimming toward the mound.
Their sharp teeth clicked together as if anxious to bury themselves in the bodies of the human beings.
With all haste Amos Fearless and Dave got into the diving bell. But before they could close the door one of the demons was upon them.
He caught the old diver by the head, intending to pull that member from the rest of the body.
Dave's heart leaped into his throat, yet his presence of mind did not desert him.
Raising one of the submarine guns he blazed away and caught the monster of the deep straight in the mouth and throat.
Mortally wounded, the demon fell back, one arm still within the doorway of the diving bell.
As quickly as possible Amos Fearless turned and shoved the arm outside.
Dave was about to close the door when his father motioned him to desist.
Then the old diver caught up one of the torpedoes which had been brought along, set its clock-like movements in motion, and hurled it forth among the approaching company of demons.
It fell in their midst, and, attracted by the shining metallic covering of the torpedo, all crowded around the object.
As they did this, the door of the diving bell was closed and the signal was sent up to hoist away immediately.
Hardly had the diving bell begun to move when a fearful shock made it quiver from top to bottom and cracked one of the glass sides.
The torpedo had exploded, dealing death and destruction among the demons of the deep, impossible to describe.
Fully a score of the monsters were utterly annihilated, while nearly every one of the others was badly wounded.
One that escaped came after the diving bell, trying vainly to destroy the bell and those inside.
But an unlucky movement caused the demon to come in contact with one of the crab-like claws of the bell, and seeing this, Dave worked the claw instantly, thus making the demon a prisoner.
The creature flopped violently, but as the bell ascended to the upper waters of the ocean, it seemed to become stunned, and before the surface was gained it lay utterly helpless.
Soon the diving bell was hoisted aboard of the Swallow.
"The gold at last!" cried Captain Broadbeam. "Hurrah! I was afraid something awful had happened."
"And the wonderful monster," put in Doctor Barrell. "What an odd creature! It will make a grand exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution."
"You'll have to pickle him in alcohol, doctor," said Dave, with a laugh.
Both Amos Fearless and Dave were very weak from having remained at the ocean's bottom so long, and it was several days before either felt entirely like himself again.
Strange to say, however, the trip after the treasure had helped Mr. Fearless' organs of speech, and soon he could talk almost as well as ever.
"This is the best yet," declared Dave. "It's better than finding the treasure."
"I am thankful from the bottom of my heart," answered the old diver, and his face showed that he spoke the truth.
"I don't think that I want to go to the bottom of the Pacific again, father."
"Nor I, Dave. It is too full of perils."
The storm that had been threatening broke the next day, and was a great strain on the Swallow and likewise on the Raven. The latter ship sprung a leak, and the Swallow stood by, ready to offer assistance if she should go down.
During that time those on the Raven heard of the finding of the treasure.
"I claim half of that treasure," said Lemuel Hankers.
"You'll never get it," replied Amos Fearless, firmly.
When the two ships separated it was discovered by those on the Swallow that Pete Rackley was missing.
"Do you know what I think?" said Dave. "I think he escaped to the Raven."
"Well, let him go," said Captain Broadbeam. "We can well afford to do without him."
"Do you think the Hankers will make any further trouble for us?" asked Dave of his father.
"That remains to be seen," answered Amos Fearless. The Hankers and their friends did try to make trouble, and how will be told in another volume, to be called "The Cruise of the Treasure Ship; or, The Castaways of Floating Island."
After the storm the weather cleared off nicely, and then Captain Broadbeam lost no time in beginning the long journey to San Francisco.
"I suppose you want to bank that gold as soon as possible," he said to Amos Fearless.
"Yes, I shall not feel safe about it until it is stored in some bank vault," was the answer.
"And father and I intend to give all on board of this ship their just share of the treasure," put in Dave.
"Well, I shan't complain of that," returned Captain Broadbeam, with a smile. "You've got a big pile and no mistake."
"Won't the folks at home stare when they hear the news!" said Dave to his father. "Why, we'll have enough money to buy half of the town, and more."
"I shall be glad of one thing, Dave."
"You want to give up diving?"
"Yes, I feel that I am getting too old for the work. Besides, I am afraid of losing my power of speech again."
"Then give it up by all means, father." And the youth gave his parent a hug which meant a great deal.
The outlook was very bright for both father and son; and here we will leave them, knowing that neither will ever forget the day when he met the rival divers and went down to the bottom of the Pacific for the sunken treasure.