Cave of Secrets by Morgan Llywelyn Page B

offloaded into the second currach.
    ‘Why not put all the cargo in one boat?’ Tom wondered aloud.
    Fergal said, ‘For safety’s sake. With two boats, at least one should get back safely. To lose half of our load would be disaster enough, but to lose everything would be a catastrophe.’ He untied the neck of one of the leather bags. ‘Put your hand in there, Tomás. Do you feel something cold and hard? That is gold, lad. Solid gold.’

CHAPTER TWELVE

Buried Treasure
    A s soon as Muiris was safely back in the currach the boats rowed away. ‘We are racing the light,’ Muiris reminded his crew. ‘If dawn catches us on open water some fisherman is bound to see us.’
    A pale glow was visible in the east as they approached a tiny, tree-covered island. It might have been the one where they met Muiris earlier, Tom could not tell. The men rowed into the shallows and then just sat, looking at one another. Within moments the second currach joined them.
    Fergal gave a great shout. ‘We’ve done it!’ he exulted. ‘By all the saints and sinners, we’ve taken the Great Earl’s gold!’
    Seán said angrily, ‘This is not the Great Earl’s gold. Everything Richard Boyle has was stolen from the Irish, one way or another. We have just reclaimed a portion of it.’
    ‘We have work to do,’ Muiris reminded them.
    They beached the currachs and unloaded the leather bags. The bags contained solid bars of pure gold. ‘These are called ingots,’ Muiris told Tom. They carried the bags to the centreof the island, where a number of holes had been dug in advance. The gold ingots were deposited in the holes, which were then filled with earth. Finally their location was disguised by the natural debris of a woodland. Muiris was not satisfied until the scene appeared completely undisturbed.
    By the time the task was finished, it was morning. Tom was exhausted. He had more questions than ever, but was too tired to ask them. It was all he could do to climb back into a currach. Muiris himself rowed the boy to the cove. The sun was climbing into a sky swept clean by the night’s storm. ‘You were a great help to us tonight, Tomás,’ Muiris said as Tom got out of the boat. ‘We needed speed and agility and you had both. Now … can you get to your house without being seen?’
    Tom managed a tired smile. ‘I’ve had enough practice. But tell me, what will you do with the gold?’
    Muiris looked tired too, there were dark circles under his eyes. ‘I wondered how long it would take you to ask. The Earl of Cork has been moving large amounts of wealth around by sea to avoid the tax man. Those ingots probably were melted down from coins, jewellery, even gold plate. I rather doubt if the earl will make his loss public. It is in Richard Boyle’s interest to keep the whole thing quiet.
    ‘The captain of the ship will claim he was boarded by pirates. No one will find the culprits because no one will look very hard. When the time is right, we will remove thegold bars from the island and exchange them for coins that cannot be identified. There is a man in Limerick town who makes his living from such transactions. The ship’s captain will receive a goodly share and a portion for his crew. If we are careful with it, the rest of the treasure will provide enough security for our sept and our children’s children.’ Muiris gave a satisfied sigh. ‘Now, it’s home for you, lad. While your father is away you are the man of the family. Tonight you have proved you are up to the task.’
    * * *
    The storm had heralded the change of seasons. Soon the wind from the bay dripped autumn over the land. One storm followed another, until Tom could barely recall the radiant days of summer.
    In September Tom’s tutor arrived at Roaringwater House. Nicholas Beasley had long thin arms and short spindly legs, a bald head he disguised with a cheap wig, and a bulging Adam’s apple that bobbed up and down when he spoke. He rode a swaybacked brown mare who