Selected Short Stories of H.G. Wells: The Treasure in the Forest

The sea was still save for an almost imperceptible swell.

The other man had been in the fore part of the canoe, closely scrutinising the land.

The other man had been in the fore part of the canoe, closely scrutinising the land.

His movements were languid, like those of a man whose strength was nearly exhausted.

The sky was like a furnace, for the sun was near the zenith.

Though they were so near the Treasure he did not feel the exaltation he had anticipated.

He tried to arouse himself by directing his mind to the ingots the Chinamen had spoken of, but it would not rest there; it came back headlong to the thought of sweet water rippling in the river, and to the almost unendurable dryness of his lips and throat.

He tried to arouse himself by directing his mind to the ingots the Chinamen had spoken of, but it would not rest there; it came back headlong to the thought of sweet water rippling in the river, and to the almost unendurable dryness of his lips and throat.

Presently he began to doze.

A Spanish galleon from the Philippines hopelessly aground, and its treasure buried against the day of return, lay in the background of the story; a shipwrecked crew thinned by disease, a quarrel or so, and the needs of discipline, and at last taking to their boats never to be heard of again.

Then Chang-hi, only a year since, wandering ashore, had happened upon the ingots hidden for two hundred years, had deserted his junk, and reburied them with infinite toil, single-handed but very safe.

Now he wanted help to return and exhume them.

A fine story for two, stranded British wastrels to hear!

The cunning little face of Chang-hi, first keen and furious like a startled snake, and then fearful, treacherous, and pitiful, became overwhelmingly prominent in the dream.

The cunning little face of Chang-hi, first keen and furious like a startled snake, and then fearful, treacherous, and pitiful, became overwhelmingly prominent in the dream.

It was L-shaped, and the transverse piece was armed with polished stone.

They pushed through a close tangle of reeds, broad fronds, and young trees, and at first it was toilsome going, but very speedily the trees became larger and the ground beneath them opened out.

The trees became at last vast pillars that rose up to a canopy of greenery far overhead.

On the ground, blotched fungi and a red-brown incrustation became frequent.

Many flowers and a creeper with shiny foliage clung to the exposed stems.

The two men drew closer together, and stood staring silently at this ominous dead body.

He advanced towards the prostrate body.

Already half exposed by the ill-fated wretch beside them lay a number of dull yellow bars.

"Only gold or lead could weigh like this," he said exultantly.

"We shall have to take this stuff to the mainland piecemeal, and bury it there for a while. How shall we get it to the canoe?"

Hooker was looking steadfastly at his companion's face.

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" said Evans in a stifled voice.

Evans gave an inarticulate cry and rolled over.

Then he looked at Evans, who was now crumpled together on the ground, his back bending and straightening spasmodically.

A profound silence brooded over the forest.