Perdosa, with a grin, leaned over the cover from behind and began to pick away at the lock with a long, crooked wire.  The others drew close about.  I slipped nearer the door, imagining that in their riveted interest I saw my opportunity.  To my surprise I caught a glimpse of legs disappearing up the companion.  I took stock.  Pulz had gone on deck.

This surprised me, for I should have thought every man interested enough in the supposed treasure to wish to be present at its uncovering; and it annoyed me still more—­the success of my plan demanded a clear deck.  However, there was nothing for it now but to trust that Pulz had wished to visit the forecastle, and that I might find the afterworks empty.

I paused at the foot of the companion and looked back.  A breathlessness of excitement held the pirates in a vise.  From above, the hanging lamp threw strong shadows across their faces, bringing out the deep lines, accentuating the dominant passions.  With their rags and blood, their unshaven faces, their firearms, their filth, they showed in violent antithesis to the immaculate white of Old Scrubs’s cabin, its glittering brass, and its shining leather.  I darted up the steps.

The contrast of the starry night with the glare of the cabin lamp dazzled my eyes.  I stood stock still for a moment, during which the only sounds audible were the singing of the winds through the rigging, the wash of the sea, and the small, sharp click of Perdosa’s instrument as he worked at the chest.

Presently I could see better.  I looked forward and aft for Pulz, but could see nothing of him, and had just about concluded that he had gone forward when I happened to glance aloft.  There, to my astonishment, I made him out, huddled in silhouette against the stars, close to the main truck.  What he was doing there I could not imagine.  However, I did not have time to bother my head about him, further than to rejoice that he could not obstruct me.

I should very much have liked to get hold of a rifle and ammunition, or at least to lay in biscuit and water, but for this there was no time.  It was not absolutely essential.  The dull glow of the island was still visible.  I had my pillar of fire and smoke to guide me.

Without further delay I jerked loose the painter and drew the extra dory alongside.

I had proceeded just so far in my movements, when the most extraordinary thing happened.  I shall try to tell you of it as accurately as possible, and in the exact order of its occurrence.  First a long, straight shaft of white light shot straight up through the cabin roof to a great height.  It shone through the wooden planks as an ordinary light shines through glass.  By contrast the surrounding blackness was thrown into a deeper shade, and yet the shaft itself was so brilliant as almost to scotch the sight.  Curiously enough, it was defined accurately, being exactly in shape like one of the rectangular tin air-shafts you see so often in city hotels.  At the instant of its appearance, the wind fell quite calm.