Page:Tales in Political Economy by Millicent Garrett Fawcett.djvu/70

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TALES IN POLITICAL ECONOMY.
[III.

with him on the second day's expedition were to have a share and a half. After a great deal of hard work, in which those on shore gave a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, many times without result, whilst the divers shoved and pushed below, the chest suddenly lunged over, and as it moved the bottom fell out, and a bright stream of gold and silver money spread itself out on the rocks. Up went the divers to tell the news, each one carrying a handful of coin as a specimen of the spoil. Great was the joy of the whole party on hearing what had been found. Two of the number, who were chosen by general consent, because they were thoroughly good fellows who would be sure to see fair-play done to everyone, were made the guardians of the store; they took charge of it till every gold piece had been brought to land; and then they counted it, and divided it into the shares that had been previously agreed to. The coins were English, and there were some of nearly every description; altogether the amount brought to land came to 7,450l. There were twenty-five of the party, one of whom was to have two