“No, indeed,” laughed John. “I can tell you one thing, though, and that is that I intend to stick awfully close to shore.”
“You won’t be any closer than I will,” exclaimed George seriously. “I’ll leave the middle of the ocean to the fish and not dispute it with them at all.”
“Who’s coming?” called George, who had already started. It seemed that every one was, for a moment later the other four members of the little family were close behind George. All were in excellent spirits and an air of suppressed excitement seemed to pervade the atmosphere around about them. When any one spoke it was in a tense tone and every laugh sounded somewhat nervous. Eyes sparkled eagerly and breath came a trifle faster when the thought of the buried gold arose in any one’s mind.
“Diamond horseshoes, Sam!” exclaimed John, slapping the grinning negro heartily on the back. “Diamond horseshoes right after breakfast.”
“‘Deed Ah hopes so,” said Sam. “Ah sho’ could use one ob dem.”
“Not here, though,” laughed Grant. “Pretty soon we shan’t have anything to wear if our clothes get very much more ragged.”
“That’s right, Sam,” said John. “You couldn’t wear your diamond horseshoe on this island.”
“Does yo’ really think dey is any ob dem in dat chest?” asked Sam very seriously and very eagerly.
“I doubt it,” laughed John. “I don’t believe they wore such things in the days when this treasure was buried.”
“Dat’s all right dough,” said Sam cheerfully. “As yo’ say Ah wouldn’t hab no use fo’ one on dis yere island. All Ah wants am gold enough to buy one when Ah gets back to Richmon’. Dat’s when Ah wants it, an’, golly, say won’t dem niggers be jealous.” He laughed aloud as he usually did at the thought, for it was a most pleasing prospect to him. He was scarcely more than a child in mind; his great, and seemingly his supreme, desire to make his friends jealous showed this.