As a matter of course this required considerable time, and it was an hour past noon when Vance began to chop at the top of the first box for the purpose of opening it.
The wood was not so rotten but that a good deal of labor was necessary in order to effect his purpose, and then exclamations of delight burst from the lips of all.
This was one of the heaviest boxes, and, as Vance had predicted, was filled with gold coins, the majority of them having come from a Spanish mint.
Owing to the fact that they were unable to determine the value of many of the pieces, it was impossible to figure up the amount of the “find;” but, judging from the weight, in comparison with that of the silver, the total sum was very large.
Vance was not satisfied until he had opened all four of the boxes, finding gold in two and silver in both the others.
“It isn’t a pirate’s hoard, that’s certain,” he said after looking at the wealth until his eyes fairly ached. “But never mind who it may have belonged to once, there can be no question but that it’s ours now by right of discovery.”
CHAPTER XI.
THE YACHT.
That they were the possessors of a large sum of money there could be no question, and after he fully realized this very pleasing fact, Vance was as eager as any of his companions to escape from the key.
To Ned’s delight he had come to believe that it was in the highest degree important they should leave the island in the Zoe, and was now as ready to push forward the work on her as he previously had been to search for the hidden treasure.
“If a vessel should come along this minute and offer to take us off, I don’t see how we could leave,” he said as he stood gazing at the money.