“But it isn’t work I’m after,” Vance replied. “I shall feel better if the money is in the cabin.”
“It will take you an hour to bring it aboard.”
“That is nothing compared to the chance of losing the treasure.”
“I don’t see how it can be lost, but if you are so worried, there’s nothin’ to prevent your tacklin’ the job.”
“Don’t you think you’d better bear a hand? If one of those boxes should fall overboard we’d feel mighty blue.”
“I’ll risk your allowin’ anything like that to happen; besides, I can’t leave this job half done, unless I sit up to finish it after we get back.”
Vance realized that that would be asking too much of the ever-willing laborer, and he insisted that Roy should help him.
The cook had no fear the treasure would be disturbed, even though it did remain on the key without them to guard it, but Vance was so anxious the work should be done that he finally consented, and the last lot was deposited in the cabin about the time Ned finished his task.
From this moment Vance considered himself chosen as the treasurer of the party, and took the wealth under his own charge.
The coins were stored in a small locker aft, which had been used as a wine closet by the previous masters of the yacht, and here it was as safe as could be possible on board ship.