But the time was come to unearth the golden pile.
She trembled with excitement when Jonah ripped up the narrow plank with the poker.

Then he thrust his arm down till he touched the soft earth.
He seemed a long time groping, and Mrs Yabsley wondered at the delay.
At last he sat up, with a perplexed look.
"I can't feel nuthin'," he said.

"Are yez sure this is the place ?" "Of course it is," said Mrs Yabsley, sharply.

"I dropped them down right opposite the 'ead of that nail." Jonah groped again without success.
"'Ere, let me try," said Mum, impatiently.
She knelt over the hole to get her bearings, and then plunged her arm into the gap.

Jonah and Ada, on their knees, watched in silence.
At last, with a cry of despair, Mrs Yabsley sat up on the floor.
There was no doubt, the treasure was gone! In this extremity, her wit, her philosophy, her temper, her very breath deserted her, and she wept.
She looked the picture of misery as the tears rolled down her face.
Jonah and Ada stared at one another in dismay, each wondering if this story of a hidden treasure was a delusion of the old woman's mind.
Like her neighbours, who lived from hand to mouth, she was given to dreaming of imaginary riches falling on her from the clouds.