to cheer.

"None of that!" he said quickly--but I knew I was about to express the
excited feeling of us all.

As to our further success, I would say that it was unabated during
nearly the whole day. I think we secured every piece of precious metal
that had been buried beneath the tree. The following day we uprooted the
other tree, but failed to find any trace of more booty. We concluded
that the remaining chest had probably been removed; but that is still an
unsettled question.

Besides the coin, we had discovered the remains of much silver plate;
but it was of little value, being almost entirely destroyed. But the
gold--there was an abundance of it, and we were all made rich!

In the meantime our parents appeared on the scene to learn the cause of
our protracted absence from home. It is needless to say that there was
no rod of correction held over us that day.

If I had taken care of my share of the treasure as I should have done
after my father's death, I would be living in luxury and comfort to-day;
but, even regretting my poor judgment, I can now thank a good Providence
that I have been sustained through a long life, which has had an undue
share of misfortune, by the splendid fortune which came to me in that
happy May of long ago.


[Illustration: "The decaying hulks of blockade runners that rise a
little here and there above the waves"]