The boys had not anticipated having such a task as was really before them, until after working at it an hour.
Very many of the fittings they were most eager to save belonged, or had fallen, on the starboard side, and in order to reach these it was necessary to dive, for the hull was filled with water to about half its breadth.
When noon came they were glad of a breathing-spell.
The tent had not yet been put up, and that labor was to be performed immediately after dinner.
They had on the shore a large collection of goods, however, and Ned said as he surveyed the pile:
“It won’t take us much more than a week to finish the job in great shape.”
“Have we got to wait all that time before finding the dollars?” Vance grumbled.
“It isn’t certain we shall ever see any more, so there’s no use in worryin’ about what may not exist.”
“That’s where you’re right, Ned,” Roy cried. “It may be Vance will have a chance of learning that there are other things in this world more valuable than money, although I hope he won’t get the lesson in quite so rough a manner as is possible.”
“It isn’t so much the money as it is the pleasure of finding it that I’m after,” Vance replied laughingly. “To hear you fellows talk any one would think I had suddenly turned miser.”