I slipped the jewels far into the hole, where they lay on the firm sand, showing odd lights through the dim blue water.

Then I scrambled down again to the flat space and the pool, and looked round to see if any one had reached the edge of the ravine.

There was no sign as yet of the pursuit, so I dropped limply on the shingle and waited.

For I had suddenly conceived a plan.
As my breath came back to me my wits came back from their wandering.
These men were not there to kill me, but to capture me.

They could know nothing of the jewels, for Laputa would never have dared to make the loss of the sacred Snake public.