It is true that there was no one on the island to rob him; but yet it did not seem safe to go away even for a single instant while it was thus exposed to view, and at once he set about making a hiding-place, first heaping high the fire with branches which he tore from the trees with a fictitious strength born of his excitement.
Then—and this time he regarded not the fact that the sand would cut his fingers—he scooped away the loose soil with his hands until the foundation of coral was brought to view.
On this, placing the coins in even piles, he stacked up the treasure until it covered a space of six or seven square inches, after which it was carefully covered with sand once more.
Then came the thought that the box might betray him in case any one should come suddenly, and he flung it on the fire, watching jealously until every portion had been consumed.
The hiding-place of his wealth was trampled upon until even the most scrutinizing search would have failed to reveal the fact that the surface had been disturbed to any great depth, and then he started once more toward the location of the wreck, hardly giving heed to the fact that the key was shrouded in darkness.
He was made sensible of this before trying to walk very far, however, for after having taken twenty steps he ran into a small tree, striking his nose such a blow that the blood flowed freely.
This had the effect of restoring to him at least a portion of his scattered senses, and he made his way back to the fire, stanching the flow of blood with the sleeve of his coat.
“It seems a good deal as if I’d been makin’ a big fool of myself,” he said with a nervous laugh, “an’ I don’t know that it’s to be wondered at. When a feller who never owned a whole dollar in his life has ’em come tumblin’ in on him the way them did, he’s likely to get rattled. I needn’t be in such a hurry to get at the rest, in case there’s more to be found, for, ’cordin’ to the looks of things, I shall have plenty of chance to dig the old craft over two or three times before anybody happens this way to help me off. Most likely Captain Bragg took good care to land me where vessels never come, for it would go hard with him if I should get back to tell my story when he was anywhere around. The best thing is to get some sleep now, an’ in the mornin’ I’ll have a hunt for more dollars. I wonder what they’d say on board the brig if it was known I’d fallen into such a snap?”
Ned looked once more at the place where he buried his treasure to be certain he left no traces which might show what had been done, and then lay down beneath his shelter of leaves; but sleep did not come at his bidding as quickly as on the previous night.
Then he had not a penny or the means of getting one, so far as he knew, and yet his rest was unbroken and refreshing. Now that he was comparatively wealthy slumber refused to visit his eyelids, and the sensation of perfect repose was denied him.