schooner for sale, and Mrs. Gould and I put our heads

together to get her bought and presented to him. It done, but he paid all the price back within the three years. Business was booming all along this sea hoard, sir. Moreover, that man alway rded /erything except in saving the silver. Poor Dofta >nia, fresh from her terrible experiences in the woods of Los Matos, had an interview with him, too. .ted to hear about Decoud: what they said, what di<l, what they thought up to the last on that fatal night. Mrs. Gould told me his manner was per- quietness and sympathy. Miss Avellanos i into tears only when he told her how Decoud had happened to say that his plan would be a glori- ous success. . . . And there's no doubt, sir, that it is. It is a success." The cycle was about to close at last. And while the privileged passenger, shivering with the an- ticipations of his berth, forgot to ask himself, " What on earth Decoud's plan could be?" Captain Mitchell was saying, "Sorry we must part so soon. Your in- telligent interest made this a pleasant day to me I shall see you now on board. You had a glimpse of the 'Treasure House of the World.' A very good name that." And the cockswain's voice at the door, an- nouncing that the gig was ready, closed the cycle. Nostromo had, indeed, found the lighter's boat, which he had left on the Great Isabel with Decoud, floating empty far out in the gulf. He was then on the bridge of the first of Barrios's transjx>rts. and within an hour's steaming from Sulaco. Barrios, always delighted with

a feat of daring and a good judge of courage, had