Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/311

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HOMEWARD BOUND—CONCLUSION
293

bandanna handkerchief. He pulled it out and crawled from under the berth.

"I think I've found it," he said, in a voice he tried in vain to steady. Then he untied the handkerchief and brought to light a money belt, exactly like that taken from Link Merwell. He placed it on the steamer trunk and opened it with care. The sight that met his gaze was a dazzling one. The money-belt contained all that Jasniff had carried of the Carwith jewels.

"My, but that's a sight!" murmured Captain Sanders.

"Going to return them, I suppose," sneered Nick Jasniff. "You're a big fool to do it! I'd keep them, and have a good time on the proceeds."

"I am not built that way," answered Dave, shortly. "I'll put this around my waist, with the other," he added, and lost no time in adjusting the second money-belt. It wasn't particularly comfortable to wear those two belts, yet Dave felt a tremendous satisfaction in so doing.

Jasniff was made to march on deck, and there he was handcuffed like the other prisoners. He no longer pretended to have a toothache, but he did have a jaw-ache, from Dave's blow.

The most surprised man was Captain Hunker, and he readily told his story of how the Englishmen had hired him to take them to Cave Island and then call for them later. When Jasniff had