This was one of the heaviest boxes, and, as Vance had predicted, was filled with gold coins, the majority of them having come from a Spanish mint.
Owing to the fact that they were unable to determine the value of many of the pieces, it was impossible to figure up the amount of the “find;” but, judging from the weight, in comparison with that of the silver, the total sum was very large.
Vance was not satisfied until he had opened all four of the boxes, finding gold in two and silver in both the others.
“It isn’t a pirate’s hoard, that’s certain,” he said after looking at the wealth until his eyes fairly ached. “But never mind who it may have belonged to once, there can be no question but that it’s ours now by right of discovery.”
That they were the possessors of a large sum of money there could be no question, and after he fully realized this very pleasing fact, Vance was as eager as any of his companions to escape from the key.
To Ned’s delight he had come to believe that it was in the highest degree important they should leave the island in the Zoe, and was now as ready to push forward the work on her as he previously had been to search for the hidden treasure.
“If a vessel should come along this minute and offer to take us off, I don’t see how we could leave,” he said as he stood gazing at the money.
“Because we couldn’t carry all this wealth away without the fact being known, and I shouldn’t like to trust everybody with the secret that these boxes were filled with gold and silver.”
“Then you are ready to aid in launching the Zoe?” Ned said interrogatively.
“Of course I am. We mustn’t waste a single moment. Help me stack these boxes up under the tool chest, and we’ll get to work as soon as Roy cooks dinner.”
“If I’d known how it was goin’ to affect you I’d voted to go ahead with the treasure-finding two or three days ago; but I thought it would take very much longer to clear that hulk of sand.”
“There hasn’t been any time lost. Do you think it will be many days before we can have the yacht afloat?”
“I hope not. It seems as if three of us should be able to do a great deal in a short while. Suppose you and I tackle the raft while Roy is doing the cooking? That will put us ahead just so much.”