The set jewels were removed. There were two hundred and ninety-four
pierced pearls and ninety-eight pierced amethysts. Among the whole
gems, eighteen magnificent pearls were extracted from the jeweled
belt. Eighteen unpierced amethysts were also taken from the
alternating turquoise squares of the belt and sixteen magnificent
amethysts from the gold breastplate.
It was then that the sewing kit supplied by Alan's sister Mary came
into service. A small piece of aluminum waterproof silk cabin
covering was converted into two flat bags and in these the stones,
equally divided, were enclosed and concealed under the clothing and
beneath the right arm of each lad. In addition, each boy took half
of the mother-of-pearl and turquoise belt plates as the finest
specimens of each material.
"And to show that there is gold too," suggested Alan, "we might as
well take along, these gold 'scrapers,' which won't bother us much,"
So these two pieces were strung on cords and suspended about the
necks of the young treasure seekers.
"And to-morrow," exclaimed Ned joyfully when all this was done,
"we'll get down from here and get a bath.
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