Hayle dived his hands into a bowl of uncut rubies, and having collected as many as he could hold in each fist, turned to his companions.
"Look here," he cried, "it's the Bank of England in each hand." [Illustration: "'LOOK HERE,' HE CRIED, 'IT'S THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN EACH HAND.'"] His voice ended in a choke.

Then Kitwater took up the tale.
"I must get out of this or I shall go mad," he muttered hoarsely.

"Come let us get back to the light.

If I don't I shall die." Without more ado, like men who were drunk with the finest wines, they followed him along the passage and up the steps into the open air.

They were just in time to see the sun setting blood-red behind the jungle.
His beauty, however, had no effect upon them, in all probability they were regardless of him altogether, for with almost simultaneous sighs of relief they threw themselves down upon the flagstones of the courtyard, and set to work, with feverish earnestness, to overhaul the booty they had procured.