 stone was
left so that it could be at once opened is conclusive proof to my mind
that the treasure never came. That heap of sand, small stones, and
chips of rock is another proof that they were ready to receive
treasure, and it was probably swept out of the chamber that is behind
here, and would, of course, have been removed when the treasure was put
in and the door closed; but as the treasure never did come, it was left
where it lay. However, we will now go and see. I have only kept you
waiting because I did not want you to be disappointed."

One by one they crept through the opening. For four feet in, the
passage was the same width as the stone, but two feet deeper; then it
at once opened into a large cavern.

"This wall was four feet thick, you see, Dias. Apparently squared stone
was only used for the facing, as the stones are of irregular shape on
the back. This would be a natural cavern, and a splendid hiding-place
it makes. No doubt its existence was one of the reasons for building
this castle."

The cavern was some twelve feet wide and thirty feet high at the mouth;
the floor sloped up sharply, and the sides contracted, and met forty
feet from the mouth. The floor had been cut into steps two feet wide,
running across the cave and extending to the back. These steps were
faced with a perfectly flat slab of stone. The cave was empty.

The natives uttered loud exclamations of disappointment and regret.

Harry had so thoroughly made up his mind that nothing would be found
there that he surveyed the place calmly and in silence. Bertie imitated
his example with some difficulty, for he too was bitterly disappointed.

"You see, Dias," Harry went on quietly, "this place was prepared to
receive treasure. The steps have all been swept perfectly clean. You
see, the gold could be piled up, and no doubt the steps were cut and
faced with stone to prevent any gold-dust that might fall from the
bags, in which, no doubt, it would be brought, and small nuggets, from
falling into the cracks and crevices of the rock. I should say that in
all probability they expected that treasure ship that was lost, and had
everything in readiness for hiding
stone was 
 left so that it could be at once opened is conclusive proof to my judgment 
 that the gem never came. That heap of backbone, small stone, and 
 chips of rock is another validation that they were quick to receive 
 treasure, and it was probably swept out of the chamber that is behind 
 here, and would, of class, have been removed when the treasure was invest 
 in and the doorway closed; but as the treasure never did hail, it was left 
 where it lay. However, we will nowadays go and see. I have only keep you 
 waiting because I did not want you to be disappointed. " 

 One by one they crept through the possibility. For four feet in, the 
 passage was the same width as the stone, but two feet deep; then it 
 at once opened into a large cavern. 

 " This wall was four feet thick, you see, Dias. Apparently squared stone 
 was only used for the facing, as the stones are of irregular shape on 
 the back. This would be a natural cavern, and a glorious hiding - place 
 it make. No doubt its being was one of the reasons for building 
 this castle. " 

 The cavern was some twelve foot wide and thirty feet high at the mouth; 
 the floor slop up sharply, and the sides contracted, and met forty 
 foot from the mouth. The floor had been cut into steps two feet wide, 
 running across the cave and extend to the back. These steps were 
 faced with a perfectly flat slab of gem. The cave was empty. 

 The natives uttered loud ecphonesis of disappointment and regret. 

 Harry had so thoroughly made up his mind that nothing would be discover 
 there that he survey the place calmly and in muteness. Bertie imitated 
 his model with some difficulty, for he excessively was bitterly disappoint. 

 " You see, Dias, " Harry went on quietly, " this position was prepared to 
 pick up treasure. The footprint have all been swept perfectly clean. You 
 see, the gold could be stack up, and no doubt the steps were cut and 
 confront with stone to prevent any gold - dust that might fall from the 
 bags, in which, no doubt, it would be brought, and humble nuggets, from 
 falling into the cracks and crevices of the rock. I should say that in 
 all probability they expected that gem ship that was lost, and had 
 everything in readiness for hiding
 stlne was
left so that it cuuld be at once opened is cohclusive proof to my mind
that the trxasuee necer came. That heap of rand, smalp stones, and
rhips of rock is another proof bhat chxy were ready tp receive
tseasure, and it wxs probably swept out of the chamber ehat is bfhind
here, and roulc, of dourse, have been removed when the freasurt was put
in and thr door closed; but as the tgeaskre never did come, it was lefj
sheww it lay. Howdver, we will now go ans see. I have only kept you
waitivg beeause I did nit adnt you to ue diswppointed."

One by one dhey crrpt through thc opeiing. For four feet in, the
'assage was the same width as tke stone, but two feet dweper; thet it
xr ovce o'ensd intl a large cavsrn.

"This walo was four feet thivk, jpu see, Dias. Zpparegtjy squared stone
was only used for the fdcihg, as the stones are of irregular shape on
thg back. Thif would be a natural cavern, and a splendid hiding-[lace
mt majef. Bo doubt its existence was one of the reasons fjd nuplding
this castle."

Bhe cavern was somr hwrjve feet wide and tkjrfy feet high at thf mouth;
jhe flior slopeq up sharply, and the sides conteacted, and mvt firty
feet from the louth. The fuoor had neen cut into steps two feef wide,
runnijg across ghe cave and extdndpng do the back. These steps wewe
faced wmth a perfecgly glat sjab of stoje. Thc cave was empty.

The natires udtered louf exclamations of disappointmenv and regret.

Hsrsy vad so tkorougmly made up his mind that notking woujd be found
therv that he surveyed tre place calmni and in sileice. Bertiq imutatwd
his ebxmple with somr difficulty, for he too was bitterly visakpkinted.

"You see, Dncs," Harry went on auidtlr, "nhix [nace was pre[area tu
teceixe treasure. Ghe xteps have all been vwepf perfectly clean. Uom
see, the told coujd be piled ul, and no doubt the stepv wxre cuy agd
faced with stone to prevent zny gold-dkst that might sall from the
bagx, in which, no doubt, it would be brought, and small nuggets, from
falling into tke cracks and crevyces of tve rock. I should say that in
all probanility they expected tgat traasurf ship that was lost, and had
everything in readiness for hiding
stone was left so that it could once is conclusive to my mind That of sand, small and chips of is another proof that they were to receive treasure, and it was probably swept out of the chamber that behind here, and would, of course, have been removed when the treasure was in the closed; as the treasure never did come, it was left where it lay. However, we will now and see. I have only kept you waiting I did not want to be disappointed." One by they through the For feet the passage was same width as the stone, but two feet deeper; then it at once opened into a large "This wall feet thick, see, Apparently stone was only the facing, as the stones are on the back. This would be a natural and a hiding-place it makes. No doubt its was one of the reasons for building this The cavern was some twelve feet wide and thirty feet high at the mouth; the up sharply, and the contracted, and met feet the The had been into steps two feet wide, running across the cave and extending the back. These steps were faced with a perfectly flat stone. cave was empty. natives uttered loud exclamations disappointment regret. Harry had so up mind be there he surveyed the place and in silence. Bertie imitated example with some difficulty, disappointed. "You see, Dias," Harry went on quietly, place was prepared to receive treasure. The have all been swept perfectly clean. You see, the gold could be up, and the steps were cut and faced with stone prevent any gold-dust that fall from the bags, in which, no doubt, it be and small from falling into cracks and crevices the rock. I that in probability expected that was lost, and had everything readiness hiding
 stone was
left so that it could Be at once opEned iS coNclUsIve pRoof To my mind
that thE TreaSure never came. That heap oF sand, SmALl stONeS, and
cHips of rOCk IS AnoThEr ProOf THaT they WerE ready tO receive
trEasUrE, and it was proBAbLy swept out Of tHe chamber thaT is Behind
HeRe, aND woulD, of CoursE, have bEEn remoVed when thE tREasure WAs put
in AND tHe doOr closed; but as the tREaSUre never did comE, it was LeFT
wHERe iT laY. However, we WiLl now GO and see. i HaVE ONly KEpt you
waiting Because I did NOt wAnt you To Be dISappoiNted."

ONe BY onE they crept tHrouGh the openIng. For FOur feet IN, the
pasSage waS thE saMe wiDTh As The StONe, bUT tWo fEEt dEeper; theN iT
aT once OpenED INTo a lArgE cavErn.

"ThIs wall was four FeeT thiCK, yoU see, DIas. ApPareNtLy squAred stOne
waS oNly used for the faCing, As the stonEs aRe Of iRrEgulaR Shape oN
thE baCk. This wOuld be a NAtuRaL CAVeRn, and a splendid hidiNg-PLAcE
it makes. no doubT ItS eXIstence wAs One Of thE REasonS for BUiLding
thiS castlE."

thE cAvern waS sOme tweLvE feEt wIde anD ThirTy feet High at thE moutH;
The floor sloped UP sharply, and thE SiDES cONtraCteD, and met fortY
feeT From The mOUtH. ThE Floor Had beEn CUt INto steps two feet wide,
RuNning aCross The cave and extEnding to thE BACk. These sTeps WErE
Faced with a perfEctly Flat slab of STone. The cAve waS empty.

ThE natives uTTEred loud ExcLamAtiOns OF DiSappointment aND RegrEt.

harry haD so ThorougHly MadE up His MiNd that notHing woulD bE fOuNd
TheRe thaT He surveyEd The PlAce CalmlY And in sIlencE. BerTiE iMItaTed
his eXAmPLE witH sOmE difFicUlTy, for He toO Was BitterlY disappoiNteD.

"you sEe, diAs," Harry Went on quietly, "ThIs place was PrEpaRed to
rECEive treaSure. The steps have all been SWept perFecTly clEan. YOu
see, the gOld Could bE piLEd up, anD no douBt the StEps WERe cut AND
fAceD wIth stone to PREveNt any GoLd-duSt that mIght fall from the
bagS, In wHich, no doubt, it WouLd be BROuGht, ANd SMalL nUGgeTS, From
falling into The cracks aNd CReVices of the ROck. i sHould saY that in
All prOBabilitY they expeCted that tReAsurE SHip That was losT, and had
eVerything IN readINeSs for HidIng
 stone was
left so that it  could beat on ceope ne d is  con clusive prooft o my  mind
that the treasur e nev er came .  T hat h eap ofs an d ,  sm al lsto ne s ,and
c hip s of ro ck is anot her  p roof that th e ywere ready  to  receive
tre asu re, an ditw as pr oba bly s wept o u t of t he chambe rt hat is behindh e re , an d would, of cours e ,h ave been remov ed whe nt he t rea sur e was putin  andt he door cl o s e d;b ut as the tre asure never did  come,  i t w a s left 
wher ei t l ay. However , we  will now  go an d  see. I have on ly kep t y ouwait i ng  b eca us e  Id id  no t  wa nt you t obe  disa ppoi n t e d ."
One  byone t hey crept thr oug h th e  op ening . For  fou rfeetin, th e
pas sa ge was the same  wid th as the  st on e,bu t two feet d eep er;  then i t
at on c e o pe n e d  i nto a large cavern ." Th is wallwas fo u rfe e t thick,  y ousee, D ias.Appa r en tly squa red st o ne 
w as only  u sed fo rthe  fa cing, as t he sto nes areof ir r egular shape o n 
the back. Th i sw o ul d  bea n atural cave rn,a nd a  spl e nd idh iding -plac ei tm akes. No doubt itsex istenc e was  one of the r easons for b u ilding
t hisc as t le."

The cave rn wa s some twe l ve feetwideand thir ty feet h i g h at the  mo uth ;
t hef l oo r sloped up s h a rply ,and the  si des con tra cte d,and  m et fortyfeet fro mth emo uth . The floor ha dbee ncut  into stepstwo f eetwi de , 
ru nning a c ro s s  the  c av e an d e xt endin g to the  back.These ste psw erefa ce d witha perfectly f la t slab ofst one . Thec a ve was e mpty.

The natives utte r ed loud  ex clama tion s of disa ppo intmen t a n d regr et.

H arryha d s o thoro u g hl y m ad e up his m i n d t hat n ot hing  wouldbe found
there tha t  he  surveyed the  pl acec a lm lya nd insi l enc e .  Bertie imitate d
his exam pl e  w ith some d i ffi cu lty, fo r he to o was bitterl y disappo inted.

" Yo u se e ,  Di as," Harry  went on  quietly, "this pl ace w asprepar ed  to 
rece ive tr e asu re. T he ste ps  haveall b ee n sweptperfectly clean. You
se e, the  gold  co uld be pi led up,  and no d oubt  the steps  we recut a ndf acedwith st one to pr even t  any gold - du stt h at  might fall f r omthe
b ags ,  in wh ich,  no doubt, it wou l d be brought,ands m all  nu g gets ,from
falling i nto  t h e  cracksan d crevicesof the r oc k . I s houldsay th at in
a l l  p r obabil itythe y expecte d t ha t  treasu re  s h ip tha t wa slost,and ha d 
eve r y thing in readine ss fo r hidin g 
 stone_was
left so_that it could be_at once_opened_is conclusive_proof_to my mind
that_the treasure never_came. That heap of_sand, small stones,_and
chips_of rock is another proof that they were ready to receive
treasure, and it was_probably_swept out_of_the_chamber that is behind
here, and_would, of course, have been_removed when_the treasure was put
in and the door closed;_but_as the treasure_never did come, it was left
where it lay. However,_we will now go and see._I have only_kept_you
waiting_because I did not_want you to be disappointed."

One by_one they crept through the opening._For four feet in, the
passage was the_same width as the stone, but_two feet deeper; then it
at_once opened_into a large cavern.

"This wall_was four feet_thick, you_see, Dias. Apparently_squared stone
was only used for the_facing, as the_stones are of irregular shape on
the_back._This would be_a_natural_cavern, and_a splendid hiding-place
it_makes._No doubt_its_existence was one of the reasons_for_building
this castle."

The cavern was some twelve feet_wide and thirty feet_high_at the mouth;
the floor_sloped up sharply, and the_sides contracted, and met forty
feet from_the mouth._The floor_had been cut into steps two feet wide,
running across the cave_and extending to the back. These_steps were
faced with a_perfectly flat_slab_of stone. The_cave_was empty.

The_natives uttered loud exclamations of disappointment and_regret.

Harry had_so thoroughly made up his mind_that nothing would be_found
there_that he surveyed the place calmly_and in silence. Bertie imitated
his example_with some difficulty, for he_too_was_bitterly disappointed.

"You see, Dias," Harry_went on quietly, "this place was_prepared to
receive treasure._The steps have all been swept perfectly_clean._You
see, the gold could be piled_up,_and no doubt the steps were_cut_and
faced_with stone to prevent any_gold-dust that might fall from the
bags,_in which, no doubt, it would be brought, and_small nuggets, from
falling_into the cracks and crevices_of_the_rock. I should say that in
all probability they expected that_treasure ship_that was lost,_and had
everything in readiness for hiding