The question is, what had we best do with these caskets?
We know that, in the course of our adventures, it may very well happen that we shall be closely searched, and it would never do to risk having such valuables found upon us." "No; I should say that we had best bury them somewhere.

Some of these merchants here may be honest enough for us to leave the jewels in their care, without anxiety; but as they themselves may, at any moment, be seized and compelled to give up their last penny, these things would be no safer with them than with us.
"As to Pertaub, I have absolute faith in him, but he himself is liable to be seized at any moment.

However, I should say we had better consult him.

If we were to bury them, say, under the floor of his house, we might leave them there for a time.

If we saw any chance of this place being, someday, captured by our people, we could wait till then for their recovery.