The mound proved to be hollow, with the walls covered with brilliant seashells of all colors.
At the top was a round hole to admit light.
In the center was a smaller mound, with a curious hump in the middle.
"Nothing here," signed Amos Fearless, when of a sudden something glittering caught Dave's eye.
He stooped and picked up—a gold coin!
In a moment he was digging away at the small mound in the center of the shell-like structure.
The moss came away readily, and to their gaze was disclosed—a heap of shining gold!
"The treasure!" burst from the young diver. "Found at last!"
His father was equally pleased.
The gold was mixed with bits of other bright metal and glass, for whoever had stored it there had known no difference in value and had simply made a collection of stuff bright to the eye.