CHAPTER IX.

THE VALLEY OF PEARLS.

Barney and Pomp were not slow in obeying this command.

The pontoon was quickly out of the cabin and the air-chambers filled.

Then all three took seats in it.

Stanhope was left aboard the Dolphin to look out for matters until their return.

Quickly the pontoon pulled over to the gangway of the Belden.

Then Frank mounted quickly to the deck, where he was met by Captain Snow.

Barney and Pomp were left in the boat to chat and gas with the sailors of the big brig, and they kept their end up well.

Captain Uriah Snow was a tall, shrewd-looking man of perhaps fifty years of age.

He shook Frank’s hand warmly.

“I am glad to meet you, Captain Reade,” he said; “pray come into the cabin.”

“Thank you.”

In the cabin, as usual, wine and the customary civilities were indulged in. Then Captain Snow said bluntly:

“Of course you must have some mission in this part of the world with your submarine boat, Mr. Reade?”

“I have accomplished it,” said Frank.

“Indeed!”

“Success has been mine.”

“You are fortunate. But what may your mission have been?”

Frank as briefly as possible told of the quest for the silver whale and the object therefor.

Snow listened with interest.

“Wonderful!” he cried, as Frank finished; “it is wonderful!”

Then he sprang to his feet and paced the deck excitedly. Frank was, of course, not a little surprised.

But Captain Uriah suddenly recollected himself and paused.

“Pardon me!” he exclaimed. “I was so deeply engrossed that I quite forgot myself. There is a matter upon my mind which I must broach to you. It is a great project, and I know I shall have your co-operation.”

“Indeed!” was all Frank could say.

“No doubt I surprise you; but I am very much in earnest. It is a scheme which I have been some years in bringing about. But its safe consummation will certainly bring me a great fortune. This I will willingly share with you.”

Frank was interested.

“I should be pleased to know of your project,” he said.

“Good! I knew that I would get your interest. The fact that you have a submarine boat makes me feel perfectly sure of success.”

“If I can help you in any way,” said Frank, “I shall be very happy to do so.”

“A thousand thanks. But now let me tell you my story.

“A dozen years ago I was upon the staff of a corps of naval engineers, sent by the Government to obtain soundings in these seas, and to make as accurate a survey as possible of the ocean bed at this point.”

Frank nodded in reply. The subject was getting more absorbing.

“We made soundings,” continued Captain Uriah, “and came in the course of our survey across a deep valley. At every rise of the sounding shaft there were brought up with the mud indications of a deposit of pearls of priceless value, as they were of the finest quality.

“We became satisfied that beneath us, and for the distance of a mile there existed a valley of pearls in which there lay a mighty fortune.”

Frank gave a start.

“A valley of pearls!” he exclaimed. “That is indeed wonderful. I am much interested, Captain Snow.”

“I knew that you would be. But to continue: As soon as the survey was completed of course our cutter was obliged to return home.

“We knew that we were leaving a mighty fortune behind us, but we could not help that.

“We were under orders and in the service of the United States Government. Our orders had been to make soundings and a survey and then to report at once at San Francisco.

“But, nevertheless, we took careful bearings, and felt sure that we could return to the exact spot at some future day.

“Best-laid plans often fail, however. Before we could reach San Francisco, we were overtaken by a terrible storm. The cutter was not exactly seaworthy, and had ought to have been condemned before the cruise began. She sprang a leak, and we were obliged to take to the boats.

“Myself and Lieutenant Fish were the last to leave the vessel.

“We were left only the captain’s gig, but by the best of good fortune, it weathered the storm, and we were picked up four days later by a French brig.

“The other members of the cutter’s crew were never heard from. They doubtless perished.

“Fish died in ’Frisco of the effects of our four days on the sea, and I was the only living person possessed of the knowledge of the locality of the valley of pearls and its bearings.

“For several years I drifted about, striving to get enough together to procure a ship and crew and come hither. I have at last secured this stanch vessel, and here I am.”

Frank drew a deep breath.

“In what manner do you expect to recover the pearls?” he asked.

“Ah, that has been the problem,” replied Captain Snow. “I have on board every sort of diving apparatus. But the depth is so great that I fear the risk of descending.”

“An ordinary diving suit would never do,” said Frank.

“But I have a plan for dredging. It is not of the most perfect kind——”

“Wait,” said Frank, with resolution. “Set all your doubts at rest. I have a plan by which you can recover your pearls. If you will accept the offer I will place the Dolphin at your disposal.”

A glad, eager cry escaped Captain Uriah’s lips.

“That is grand!” he cried. “I had not dared to broach the matter to you. But I see that you are very kindly disposed to assist me. There is fortune enough there for many and all of us.”

Frank made a deprecatory gesture.

“I care not for the fortune,” he said; “but I am interested in your project and will gladly help you.”

“A thousand thanks!” cried Captain Uriah, wildly; “the problem is then all settled. With your submarine boat it will be easy enough to recover enough of the pearls to satisfy us. I shall never forget this favor, Mr. Reade.”

“Don’t mention it,” said Frank, politely. “Are we far from the locality of the pearl valley?”

“I believe we are not a dozen miles from the spot.”

“Then let us locate it at once. If you will come aboard the Dolphin it shall be placed at your disposal.”

“I will do so.”

Captain Uriah hustled away to make provision. Soon he was at the gangway all in readiness with mining tools and two of his crew.

They entered one of the ship’s boats and were rowed over to the Dolphin, as the pontoon was too light to hold them all.

It had been arranged that the Belden should hover about the vicinity for several days, or until the Dolphin should return from her submarine quest.

Then all went aboard the Dolphin.

Frank showed Captain Uriah over the boat, explaining to him its mechanism.

The old captain was more than interested. He was dazed.

“Well, well!” he exclaimed in a dreamy way, “I can hardly realize it all! It seems as if I must be in some other part of the world. I cannot understand it.”

Then Frank pressed the lever which hermetically sealed doors and windows.

The Dolphin plunged beneath the surface. Down she went until the electric lights showed the gleaming sands of the ocean bed.

Then began the quest for the valley of pearls.

For fully a day the Dolphin cruised about. Then the electric light showed a half mile distant huge pillars of stone, showing the entrance to a submarine valley or sink.

The Dolphin approached this rapidly.

Reaching the huge pillars it passed between them. The valley of pearls was spread to view.

There they lay in heaps upon the bed of the valley. They glistened and shone in the electric light beautifully.

Truly it was a wonderful sight. Words cannot describe the keen joy of Captain Uriah.

He danced and sang and screamed in his delight.

“By the horn spoon!” he cried, “my fondest dreams are realized! Pearls, pearls, beautiful pearls! Truly they are gorgeous beyond all description.”

Even the phlegmatic voyagers of the Dolphin, who had become hardened to the wonders of the sea, could not help but admire the display.

“Upon my word!” cried Stanhope, “I don’t mind possessing a few of those gems myself.”

The Dolphin was allowed to rest upon the bottom. Then Frank brought out some diving suits.

Captain Uriah wanted suits for himself and his men. Fortunately there were enough, and Frank did not demur.

It was arranged that they should go out and gather the richest of the pearls, and that they should return as soon as this was done.

None of the Dolphins party decided to participate in the quest.

So donning the diving suits Captain Uriah and his men left the Dolphin.

It required some little time for them to get accustomed to the pressure of the water upon their helmets.

But they finally overcame this and began to mine for the pearls.

This was slow work and not altogether fruitful.

While there were thousands of the pearls upon the bed of the valley, only a few of them were fit to preserve.

Many were imperfect, many crumbled to powder, and only one in fifty was a perfect and valuable gem.

But there were, all the same, many rare, beautiful and valuable specimens, and these Captain Uriah diligently searched for.

For hours the pearl miners worked, and with much success. Then suddenly Captain Uriah threw up his arms and fell in a heap.

Barney, who was in the pilot-house saw this, and gave a yell of wild alarm.