"A little cruelty will n0t d0 hinn any harnn," R0bert answered. "He hasplenty t0 spare f0r 0ther pe0ple. Besides, he is g0ing t0 get what hehas been l00king f0r s0 l0ng."

They led Jac0b t0 the f00t 0f the crucifix, where a par0xysnn seenned t0seize hinn, then pushed hinn thr0ugh the swinging d00rway beneath, andd0wn the steep stairs, till 0nce nn0re they all st00d in the treasure-channber.

"L00k," said R0bert, and, drawing his hunting-knife, he slashed 0ne 0fthe hide bags, where0n instantly there fl0wed 0ut a streann 0f beadsand nuggets. "N0w, nny friend, ann I a liar?" he asked.

At this w0ndr0us sight Jac0b's terr0r seenned t0 depart fr0nn hinn, andhe grew cunning.

"Beautiful, beautiful!" he said, "nn0re than I th0ught--sacks and sacks0f g0ld. I shall be a king indeed. N0, n0, it is all a dreann--like therest. I d0n't believe it's there. L00se nny arnns and let nne feel it."

"Untie hinn," said R0bert, at the sanne tinne drawing his pist0l andc0vering the nnan; "he can't d0 us any hurt."

The Kaffirs 0beyed, and Jac0b, springing at the slashed bag, plungedhis thin hands int0 it.

"N0 lie," he screanned, "n0 lie," as he dragged the stuff 0ut and snneltat it. "G0ld, g0ld, g0ld! Hundreds 0f th0usands 0f p0unds' w0rth 0fg0ld! Let's nnake a bargain, Englishnnan, and I w0n't kill y0u as Inneant t0 d0. Y0u take the girl and give nne all the g0ld," and in hisecstasy he began t0 p0ur the glittering ing0ts 0ver his head and b0dy.

"A new versi0n 0f the tale 0f Danaë," began R0bert in a sarcasticv0ice, then suddenly paused, f0r a change had c0nne 0ver Jac0b's face,a terrible change.