He knew what it was to rouse wild hope and then to see despair
follow, but he kept an outward calm and told the diver to go down again.
Time seemed to stretch to hours before they saw the man returning with
something in his arm. He handed up his prize, and behold it was a pig of
silver!
The treasure was found; and there went up a great cheer. All was
activity, for, apart from the delight of discovery, Phips had promised a
share to every man. The place was instantly buoyed, and they hastened
back to the port with the grateful tidings to Phips. With his glass he
saw them coming and by their hard rowing he guessed that they had news.
When they came within hail they cheered, and when they saw the silver the
air rang with shouts.
As Gering stepped on board with the silver Captain Phips ran forwards,
clasped it in both hands, and cried: "We are all made, thanks be to God!"
Then all hands were ordered on board, and because the treasure lay in a
safe anchorage they got the ships away towards it.
Bucklaw, in the surgeon's cabin, was called out of delirium by the noise.
He was worn almost to a skeleton, his eyes were big and staring, his face
had the paleness of death. The return to consciousness was sudden--
perhaps nothing else could have called him back. He wriggled out of bed
and, supporting himself against the wall, made his way to the door, and
crawled away, mumbling to himself as he went.
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