He now observed what had escaped him during the night, the canoe was black from end to end.  Stem, stern, gunwale, thwart, outrigger, mast and sail were black.  The stain did not come off on being touched, it seemed burnt in.  As he leaned over the side to dip water, and saw his reflection, he started; his face was black, his clothes were black, his hair black.  In his eagerness to drink, the first time, he had noticed nothing.  His hands were less dark; contact with the paddle and ropes had partly rubbed it off, he supposed.  He washed, but the water did not materially diminish the discoloration.

After eating, he returned to the grass and rested again; and it was not till the sun was sinking that he felt any return of vigour.  Still weak, but able now to walk, leaning on a stick, he began to make a camp for the coming night.  But a few scraps, the remnant of his former meal, were left; on these he supped after a fashion, and long before the white owl began his rounds Felix was fast asleep on his hunter’s hide from the canoe.  He found next morning that the island was small, only a few acres; it was well-wooded, dry, and sandy in places.  He had little inclination or strength to resume his expedition; he erected a booth of branches, and resolved to stay a few days till his strength returned.

By shooting wildfowl, and fishing, he fared very well, and soon recovered.  In two days the discoloration of the skin had faded to an olive tint, which, too, grew fainter.  The canoe lost its blackness, and became a rusty colour.  By rubbing the coins he had carried away he found they were gold; part of the inscription remained, but he could not read it.  The blue china-tile was less injured than the metal; after washing it, it was bright.  But the diamond pleased him most; it would be a splendid present for Aurora.  Never had he seen anything like it in the palaces; he believe it was twice the size of the largest possessed by any king or prince.

It was as big as his finger-nail, and shone and gleamed in the sunlight, sparkling and reflecting the beams.  Its value must be very great.  But well he knew how dangerous it would be to exhibit it; on some pretext or other he would be thrown into prison, and the gem seized.  It must be hidden with the greatest care till he could produce it in Thyma Castle, when the Baron would protect it.  Felix regretted now that he had not searched further; perhaps he might have found other treasures for Aurora; the next instant he repudiated his greed, and was only thankful that he had escaped with his life.  He wondered and marvelled that he had done so, it was so well known that almost all who had ventured in had perished.