"I should say so," he said; "some of them are certainly. But have you any idea what these are worth?"
"Not the least in the world," Ned said; "if they are real, though, I suppose they are worth some thousands of pounds."
"My boys, I should say," Colonel Warrener replied, turning over the heap, "they must be worth a hundred thousand if they are worth a penny."
The boys looked at each other in astonishment:
"Really, father?"
"Really, my boys."
"Hurrah," Dick said. "Then you can give up the service when this war is over, father, and go home and live as a rich man; that will be glorious."
"My dear boys, the prize is yours."
"Nonsense, father!" exclaimed the boys together. And then began an amicable contest, which was not finally concluded for many a long day.
"But what had we better do with all these things, father?" Dick said at last.