Page:Off For Hawaii.djvu/258

240. Here was a rude, native earthenware bowl, filled almost to overflowing with pearls, big and little.

"The pearls!" repeated Delverez. "Give me my share of them! Remember, I am to have half," and he pulled Caleb Merkin backward, that he might get at the bowl. Now that the treasure had been found both of the rascals seemed to be crazed with joy.

I must confess that my own heart beat rapidly, and looking at Oliver I saw that he was trembling with suppressed excitement. Suddenly he left Dan and me, and leaping upon Delverez, hurled him with tremendous violence against the lava wall of the cave.

"This treasure is mine; you cannot have it!" he cried, and pushed Merkin back also. Then, before either could interfere, he grabbed up the bowl and began to retreat.

"Oliver, this way!" I shouted, when I saw that he was going in the wrong direction. But he did not hear me, and I ran after him, and so did Dan.

A shot rang out, fired by Ramon Delverez, and the bullet passed close to my head. "No make a noise!" I heard Koloa scream. "You break down the lava!" But Delverez did not heed him. He fired twice more, and Merkin also fired.

The shots echoed and re-echoed throughout the