“No,” replied Briscoe; “the skipper has them all well in hand now, and they must be given to understand that every man will take a share of the gold, according to his position. I vote we tell the skipper and mates at once.”
Ten minutes later they were fully acquainted with the facts, and the captain screwed his face up tightly.
“Hah!” he said; “I never aimed at being rich, but I’m not going to quarrel with my luck.”
“No,” said Briscoe, “and I think we ought to take as much of it as we can carry with us.”
“Well, gentlemen, it’s a big find, and I suppose it means half a dozen journeys here to fetch it all to the brig.”
“We cannot say yet,” said Sir Humphrey; “but we ought to get all we can down to the brig at once.”
“Yes,” said Briscoe, “and leave Mr Brace and me here with a couple of men to guard the rest.”
“No,” said Sir Humphrey firmly; “we must keep together. I say: let’s load the boats as far as is wise and get as much of the treasure as possible safely to the brig.”
“And lose all there is left,” said Briscoe.
“No,” replied Brace. “This gold must have kept here in safety for at least a thousand years, so I daresay it will rest till we get back again.”