But the night was too dark for him to see anything but the swirl of green fire made by the movement of the chain and the fire-drops falling from the links.

At last something heavy knocked against the boat's flanks.
"Once more," whispered the man from the tiller.

"Now!" And the load was perched upon the gunwale and lowered into the boat.

It consisted of three square and bulky metal cases, bound together by the chain.
"We have it, my friend Marteen," whispered Jose Medina, with a laugh of sheer excitement.

He was indeed hardly less stirred than Hillyard himself.