STORY ONE, CHAPTER FORTY ONE.
CONCLUSION.
Quite a year elapsed before the subject was broached again from abusiness point of view. Mr Parkley had been a good deal disheartenedby his losses, and shook his head when Dutch suggested a second trip.
"No, no," he said; "no more chance."
"Suppose there is no chance in the matter," said Dutch, quietly; and hethen proceeded to tell of that which he had kept a secret in his ownbreast ever since--to wit, of the rich treasure of gold he had found,after the silver had been removed.
"Is this a fact, or some dream left by our troubles when coming home?"said Mr Parkley, who looked at him in doubt.
"A fact," said Dutch; and he described exactly where the treasure lay.
"That's enough," exclaimed Mr Parkley. "I had made a vow that I wouldnever be tempted again; but I will this once, Dutch--this once, my lad."
He kept his word, and though Hester shivered at the idea, she saw herhusband's great desire for the trip, gave way, and prevailed upon him toconsent to take her.
For a time he held out, so painful were the recollections of the lastvoyage; but on Captain Studwick taking the command of the vessel theywere to sail in once more, and the doctor and his newly-made wifebegging to accompany them, he agreed.
Rasp insisted upon going again, because Oakum was likely to interfere,and Oakum insisted on being one of the party because old Rasp would bethere to meddle: where Sam Oakum went, 'Pollo was sure to be hiscompanion.
The result was that the vessel, well found and manned by a good crew,sailed one day, made a rough but prosperous voyage to the Gulf ofMexico, and there, in the placid weather they enjoyed, made first forone of the sunken galleons, where, after the removal of the sand, andthe destruction of sundry sharks, so great a treasure in golden ingotswas brought to the surface and carefully stowed away as made Mr Parkleypropose that they should tempt fortune no further, but up anchor and goback home.
Dutch, however, was of too manly a grit to go away without exploring theother galleon, and, on this being reached, a second golden store wasrescued from the wave where it had been three hundred years--a treasurelarge enough not only to recompense all past losses, but to make itswinners wealthy for life.
So far from any imaginary curse attending this voyage, it wasaccomplished without difficulty, and home reached once more, with themysteriously won treasure, of which there was much talk, but littleinformation gained; for, saving what oozed out from the well-paidsailors, nothing was known, Mr Parkley saying that perhaps one of theSpanish States might put in a claim.
And so ended the eventful search for the gold and silver of the Spanishgalleons--wealth won by conquest by the filibustering followers ofPhilip of Spain, but never enjoyed by them when dragged by torture fromthe simple-hearted Peruvians, who had hidden it in the tropic sands.What might have been its purpose had the treasure reached the SpanishCourt, who can tell? Suffice it that, as far as money could do so, itmade happy several English homes, not the least happy that of the manwho, with true penitence, sought in the rest of his career to recompensethe woman who had been the object of his doubts.
"Yes," said he, "I was mad, and bent on seeking treasure when I had agreater one at home. Ah, Hester, love, I have gone down many times, andhave found strange things, but I shall never reach to the bottom of yourheart, or gather all its most secret depths of love, so long as I amwhat I am, _Dutch the Diver_."
STORY TWO, CHAPTER ONE.