“Nonsense,” said Frank, sharply, “it is a common enough phenomenon, and due to the fog.”
“Right,” cried Wade. “Somewhere near us a ship is anchored and her crew are doubtless whiling away the time in games and pleasure. A peculiar condition of the atmosphere brings their voices to us.”
“Dat am berry funny,” said Pomp, in mystified tones.
“Begorra, yez are roight,” averred Barney.
But the voices presently died away, becoming fainter and fainter. Then the fog was seen to be in motion.
Gradually it lifted and the sea was seen north, south and east of them, but to the west there was a long line of coast.
A bold headland rose to view, and with a thrill of joy Wade cried:
“That is Cape Catoche. We have thoroughly explored the sunken isthmus. Our expedition has been a success. We have rendered science a mighty service, and have good reason to feel proud of it.”
Down in the ocean depths, Poole and his men had been at work digging out the supposed mighty treasure of the Isle of Mona.
Every skeleton was unearthed and the sand around it closely sifted. Thus the coins were recovered.
Also further excavations were made in the cavern, but without success.
However, believing the coins to be gold, the villain was fairly well satisfied. He piled them into the chest and had it hoisted aboard the schooner.
“Ha,” he muttered, “I was just in time to foil those dogs. They were sure of beating me, but Hardy Poole has staked too much upon this game to lose. Curse them, I will some day have a chance to settle the score with them.”
With this venomous decision he removed his diving-suit and had begun to examine his treasure when an incident occurred.
One of the men who had been in the shrouds cried:
“What?” cried Poole, with a sudden start. “Bearing our way?”
“She looks like a fast craft, sir. Most likely a coast guard vessel,” was the reply.
“Change course. Bear nor’-nor’-west!” ordered the villain. “We don’t want to fall in with any Cuban cruiser just now.”
The schooner lay about on the new course. She was a fairly fast sailer and cut the water rapidly.
But in a few moments the man aloft again shouted:
“Eh?” roared Poole. “Is she giving us a chase?”
“That she is, sir, and she is gaining on us. She has steam up and can sail two knots to our one.”
