“I’m a boy going to seek my fortune,” said Fred. “What are you digging for?”
“Digging for a fortune,” said the man, taking up another shovelful.
“May I help you?” said Fred.
“Yes, if you like.”
“And have half?”
“Have all you find,” said the man, forcing down his shovel with his foot.
Fred ran around to the cellar door, laid down his bundle on the grass beside it, and entered. The man pointed to an old shovel with a large corner broken off, and Fred picked it up and went to work.
Nearly half of the cellar bottom had been lowered about a foot by digging, and the man was lowering the remainder. With Fred’s help, after about two hours of hard work, it was all cut down to the lower level.
Fred had kept his eyes open, and scrutinized every shovelful; but nothing like a coin had gladdened his sight. Once he thought he had one, and ran to the light with it. But it proved to be only the iron ear broken off from some old bucket.
“I guess that’ll do,” said the man, wiping his brow, when the leveling was completed.