We now worked in earnest, and never did I pass ten minutes of more intense excitement.  During this interval we had fairly unearthed an oblong chest of wood, which, from its perfect preservation and wonderful hardness, had plainly been subjected to some mineralizing process—­perhaps that of the bichloride of mercury.  This box was three feet and a half long, three feet broad, and two and a half feet deep.  It was firmly secured by bands of wrought iron, riveted, and forming a kind of trellis-work over the whole.  On each side of the chest, near the top, were three rings of iron—­six in all—­by means of which a firm hold could be obtained by six persons.  Our utmost united endeavors served only to disturb the coffer very slightly in its bed.  We at once saw the impossibility of removing so great a weight.  Luckily, the sole fastenings of the lid consisted of two sliding bolts.  These we drew back—­trembling and panting with anxiety.  In an instant, a treasure of incalculable value lay gleaming before us.  As the rays of the lanterns fell within the pit, there flashed upwards, from a confused heap of gold and of jewels, a glow and a glare that absolutely dazzled our eyes.

I shall not pretend to describe the feelings with which I gazed.  Amazement was, of course, predominant.  Legrand appeared exhausted with excitement, and spoke very few words.  Jupiter’s countenance wore, for some minutes, as deadly a pallor as it is possible, in the nature of things, for any negro’s visage to assume.  He seemed stupefied —­thunder-stricken.  Presently he fell upon his knees in the pit, and, burying his naked arms up to the elbows in gold, let them there remain, as if enjoying the luxury of a bath.  At length, with a deep sigh, he exclaimed, as if in a soliloquy: 

“And dis all cum ob de goole-bug! de putty goole-bug! de poor little goole-bug, what I boosed in dat sabage kind ob style!  Aint you shamed ob yourself, nigger?—­answer me dat!”

It became necessary, at last, that I should arouse both master and valet to the expediency of removing the treasure.  It was growing late, and it behooved us to make exertion, that we might get everything housed before daylight.  It was difficult to say what should be done, and much time was spent in deliberation—­so confused were the ideas of all.  We finally lightened the box by removing two-thirds of its contents, when we were enabled, with some trouble, to raise it from the hole.  The articles taken out were deposited among the brambles, and the dog left to guard them, with strict orders from Jupiter neither, upon any pretence, to stir from the spot, nor to open his mouth until our return.  We then hurriedly made for home with the chest; reaching the hut in safety, but after excessive toil, at one o’clock in the morning.  Worn out as we were, it was not in human nature to do more just now.  We rested until two, and had supper; starting for the hills immediately afterwards, armed with three stout sacks, which by good luck were upon the premises.  A little before four we arrived at the pit, divided the remainder of the booty, as equally as might be, among us, and, leaving the holes unfilled, again set out for the hut, at which, for the second time, we deposited our golden burdens, just as the first streaks of the dawn gleamed from over the tree-tops in the east.