But Bob, whose turn was next, had not taken out more than three shovelsful of earth than he uttered a cry of delight.
“I’ve struck something!” he shouted.
Quickly he began tossing out the soil, and, a moment later, there was revealed the rusted top of an iron box. It did not take long to uncover the chest—a veritable strong box—and haul it up on top of the ground. The chest was closed with a heavy padlock, but it was so rusted that a few blows from a spade shattered it.
The lid was pried back, on squeaking hinges and there, revealed in the light of the sun, was, what seemed to the boys, millions of dollars in gold—old gold coins of a bygone age.
“We’ve found it!” shouted Harry, capering about. “We have it!”
“That’s the treasure all right!” added Ned. “You’re a millionaire, Mr. Beegle!”
“Not so loud!” cautioned Bob. “You don’t want all Cliffside rushing out here. Go easy!”
His chums calmed down and then an examination of the gold was made. Bob’s keen eyes soon estimated that there wasn’t anything like a million dollars—only a few thousands at most, but it was a fortune to the old sailor.
“But we’ve got another hole to dig!” said Ned, somewhat disappointed at finding the gold to total less than had been hoped for. “Maybe that’ll run higher.”
They soon uncovered a second iron chest, which contained about the same amount of old gold, and some ornaments which, Bob said, might be sold for a large sum as antiques. So, take it all in all, it was a very tidy little fortune that was dug up that day.