You may imagine how the boy's heart throbbed with excitement as he slowly thrust his hand into the cavity and felt around to see if the precious pearls were still there.

In a moment his fingers touched the silken bag and, without pausing to close the recess, he pressed the treasure against his breast and ran out into the moonlight to examine it.

When he reached a bright place he started to open the bag, but he observed Bilbil lying asleep upon the grass near by.

So, trembling with the fear of discovery, he ran to another place, and when he paused he heard Rinkitink snoring lustily.

Again he fled and made his way to the seashore, where he squatted under a bank and began to untie the cords that fastened the mouth of the bag.