Laying hold of the rope, he began to hoist himself upward.
He had gone but a little way, however, when, without warning, his
support gave way and he fell backward; the rope came pouring down
upon him. "ROSA!" he called again in a voice thick from fright.
Followed an instant of silence; then he flattened himself against
the side of the well and the breath stuck in his throat.
Into the dim circle of radiance above a head was thrust--a head, a
pair of wide shoulders, and then two arms. The figure bent closer,
and O'Reilly recognized the swarthy features of that man he had
seen at the Matanzas railroad station. There could be no doubt of
it--it was Cobo.
The men stared at each other silently, and of the two Cobo
appeared to be the more intensely agitated. After a moment his
gaze fixed itself upon the opening into the treasure-chamber and
remained there. As if to make entirely sure of what he had
overheard, he stretched his body farther, supporting it by his
out-flung arms, then moved his head from side to side for a better
view. He seemed to rock over the mouth of the well like a huge,
fat, black spider. He was the first to speak.
"Am I dreaming? Or--have you really discovered that treasure?" he
queried.
O'Reilly's upturned face was ghastly. He wet his lips. He managed
to whisper Rosa's name.
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