WHAT THE BOX CONTAINED――CONCLUSION
“Look at the gold!”
“I wonder what it’s worth?”
“Those sailors told the truth, after all!”
Such were some of the exclamations made by the Rover boys as they gazed
at the contents of the chest pulled out of the rocky hole before them.
But if they were excited, Ira Small was more so, and for a few minutes
the boys thought the old tar would go crazy. Again and again he dove
his hands into the chest, to bring up the coins and let them fall back
with a merry clink.
“I knowed we’d find it!” he cried. “Now I’ll be a rich man fur life!”
And then he added quickly to the boys: “But you’re to have your share
of it, lads. One-half of whatever is here goes to Jack an’ the rest of
you.”
They were still looking over the coins in the chest when the bit of
candle spluttered up and went out.
“Never mind! I don’t care how dark it is now,” said Andy. “We’ve found
the treasure, and that’s enough.”
“We’ll have to stay here all night,” returned Jack. “We’ll never be
able to find our way out in the darkness.”
“What do we care?” put in Randy, lightly. “I don’t believe any wild
animals are going to bother us in this out-of-the-way hole. Those
pirates certainly buried their gold in a spot where it was hard to
find,” he added.
Sitting around in the darkness, the boys and the old sailor discussed
the situation from every possible angle. They could make only a wild
estimate of what the contents of the chest was worth, but knew it would
run into many thousands of dollars.
Their exertions that day had worn them out completely, and presently
all were glad to make themselves as comfortable as possible on the
rocks and go to sleep. They set no guard, and such a precaution would
have been unnecessary, for no wild animals came to disturb them.
In the morning they took another look at the contents of the chest, and
then, while it was still early daylight, set out for the passageway
under the cliff. It took them two hours to clamber to this place and
two hours more to get out to the clumsy scow and rig up a hawser so
that they could haul the chest on board.
“Now we’ve got it we don’t want to lose it,” said Ira Small anxiously,
and so the ancient box was handled with care.
Once aboard the clumsy scow, they set out upon the return to the
wrecked steam yacht.
“We’ll certainly have a story to tell when we get home,” said Fred to
his cousins. “Do you know, I had half a notion that that story about
pirates’ gold was a fairy yarn.”
“So did I, Fred,” said Randy. “But, of course, it’s well known that
pirates did bury their treasures around the West Indies.”
Once aboard the wreck, the boys and the old sailor washed and brushed
up the best they could, and then prepared for themselves a much-needed
meal. After this they sat down to look over the contents of the chest
more carefully and to wait as patiently as possible for those who might
come to their rescue.
“These are Spanish doubloons all right enough,” said Jack. “But what
they’re worth, I don’t know.”
“Yes, but they’re not all doubloons,” answered Randy. “Some of these
coins seem to be copper.”
“Well, it’s quite a find, anyhow, Randy.”
“Oh, I agree with you on that!”
On the afternoon of the next day a vessel hove in sight which proved
to be an auxiliary cruiser of the United States Navy. Again the boys
and the old tar set up their signal of distress, and soon a small boat
containing a couple of officers and a number of men reached the wreck.
“Hurrah! Hurrah!” shouted Andy, as they came up. “Now we’re safe!”
“What vessel is this?” asked one of the officers, as soon as he had
found out who the party were; and when told he said that the _Coryanda_
had been reported water-logged and about to sink two weeks before.
“She belongs to two scientists from Baltimore,” he said. “They had a
valuable collection of wild animals, snakes and birds on board.”
“So they did!” answered Jack. “And, believe me, we had some fun with
those creatures! A few of them are dead, and the rest of them were
either drowned or escaped to this island.” And then he and his cousins
and the old tar told their story.
“Did those two men, Jackson and Borderwell, who were in the hydroplane
and flew over the wreck, notify you?” questioned Jack, curiously.
“They did,” answered the leading officer. “They were sent out on a
scouting expedition,” he explained. “After such storms as we have had
lately we often find wrecks floating around in this vicinity.”
“Well, those men certainly deserve our thanks,” put in Randy, and the
other boys and Ira Small agreed with him.
Many of the things of value on the wreck were taken to the cruiser, and
then the boys and the old tar went on board. The cruiser was from Porto
Rico, but was bound for Norfolk, for which the boys were thankful.
“Well, it’s good-bye to the island!” cried Jack, as they steamed away.
“Yes, and good-bye to whatever of the wild animals and snakes are left!”
“Gee! what of the monkeys we left tied up?” questioned Jack, suddenly.
“They’re not tied up,” answered Andy. “I didn’t have the heart to do
it, so I cut them loose when we were leaving camp.”
The auxiliary cruiser was, of course, supplied with radio, and the lads
lost no time in sending a message to their parents. A few hours later
came a return message, relayed from New York City, stating that the
fathers of the four boys were on the way to meet them as soon as they
landed at Norfolk.
It can well be imagined how impatient the boys were to reach home. Yet
every time they thought of joining their parents and Mary and Martha a
tinge of sadness crept into their minds.
“Poor Ralph, Gif and Spouter!” murmured Jack. “How we shall miss them!”
When at last Norfolk was reached, the boys could hardly wait to get
ashore. There were their fathers ready to greet them, and my readers
can rest assured that all received the warmest kind of welcome.
“We were hoping against hope when your message came,” declared Dick
Rover. “We thought the motor boat had been lost with all on board.”
“We’ve been watching all the shipping reports for days,” added Tom
Rover. “We knew there had been some terrible storms, and the papers
have reported half a dozen wrecks. We were sure no motor boat could
live in such weather.”
“Well, we’ve got bad news,” said Randy, sorrowfully. “Spouter, Gif and
Ralph――――”
“Are all safe!” burst in Sam Rover.
“Safe!” came simultaneously from the four Rover boys.
“Yes, safe! We got a message from them only yesterday. They were picked
up by a vessel bound for Spain, and they are now on their way home.”
“Hurrah! This is the best yet!” cried Andy, and tried to do a jig
in spite of his hurt ankle. Later on the poor fellow had to go to a
hospital to have the ankle readjusted. But the operation was not a
severe one, and soon his ankle was as well as ever.
The old sailor went home with the boys and was warmly thanked for all
the assistance he had given the lads during their perilous days on the
ocean and on the island.
The contents of the pirates’ chest was gone over carefully, and then
Dick Rover advised that a well known numismatist be called in.
“What in the world is a numismicks?” demanded Ira Small, and when he
was told what was meant, he agreed at once that what Dick Rover had
suggested be done.
The numismatist went over all of the coins carefully and declared many
of them valuable, not only intrinsically, but on account of their age
and rarity. He took charge of the whole affair, and in the end the
treasure brought in twenty-four thousand dollars.
“An’ half of it goes to the boys. I won’t have it no other way,”
declared the lanky sailor. And so each of the boys was able to place
three thousand dollars to his own bank account.
“Well, we certainly had great times on that trip!” declared Randy. “I
don’t suppose we’ll ever have such strenuous times again.” But Randy
could not look into the future. Strenuous days were still to come for
the boys, and what some of them were will be related in another volume,
to be entitled “The Rover Boys on Sunset Trail; or, The Old Miner’s
Mysterious Message.”
It was not until later that the boys learned that the two scientists
from Baltimore who owned the _Coryanda_ had been saved along with all
but two of those who had been aboard the ill-fated steam yacht. About
the _Hildegarde_ they heard nothing for many months, but one day Ira
Small turned up with the information that the rum-runner had been lost
in the hurricane and not a soul had been saved.
“Oh, Jack, I’m so glad you got back safe and sound,” said Ruth
Stevenson, when she met the young major. “You can’t imagine how worried
all of us were!”
“Well, I’m mighty glad to be back, Ruth,” he answered. “We’re all glad
to be back. It was no fun being cast away on the ocean on that bit of
wreckage and then to get on a water-logged yacht that had a lot of wild
animals and snakes aboard.”
“What are they going to do about those wild animals and snakes?”
questioned Martha.
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” answered her brother. “One such
experience was enough for me.”
“I guess it was enough for all of us,” put in Randy.
“Well, I wouldn’t mind having that little monkey back,” came from Andy.
“But as for the rest of the beasts――not for me!”
“Hurrah! Here’s a letter from Ralph, Spouter and Gif!” cried Fred,
bursting in upon his cousins. “They’re coming back to America just as
fast as a steamer can bring them.”
And now, while the Rover boys are reading the letter from their chums,
we will say good-bye.
THE END
_This Isn’t All!_
Would you like to know what became of the good friends you have made in
this book?
Would you like to read other stories continuing their adventures and
experiences, or other books quite as entertaining by the same author?
On the _reverse side_ of the wrapper which comes with this book, you
will find a wonderful list of stories which you can buy at the same
store where you got this book.
_Don’t throw away the Wrapper_
_Use it as a handy catalog of the books you want some day to have.
But in case you do mislay it, write to the Publishers for a complete
catalog._
THE TOM SWIFT SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Author of “The Don Sturdy Series.”
Every boy possesses some form of inventive genius. Tom Swift is a
bright, ingenious boy and his inventions and adventures make the most
interesting kind of reading.
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR CYCLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS MOTOR BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SUBMARINE BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIRELESS MESSAGE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE DIAMOND MAKERS
TOM SWIFT IN THE CAVES OF ICE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY RACER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RIFLE
TOM SWIFT IN THE CITY OF GOLD
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR GLIDER
TOM SWIFT IN CAPTIVITY
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WIZARD CAMERA
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT SEARCHLIGHT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT CANNON
TOM SWIFT AND HIS PHOTO TELEPHONE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AERIAL WARSHIP
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG TUNNEL
TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS WAR TANK
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIR SCOUT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS UNDERSEA SEARCH
TOM SWIFT AMONG THE FIRE FIGHTERS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS FLYING BOAT
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GREAT OIL GUSHER
TOM SWIFT AND HIS CHEST OF SECRETS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS AIRLINE EXPRESS
TOM SWIFT CIRCLING THE GLOBE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS TALKING PICTURES
TOM SWIFT AND HIS HOUSE ON WHEELS
TOM SWIFT AND HIS BIG DIRIGIBLE
TOM SWIFT AND HIS SKY TRAIN
TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT MAGNET
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE DON STURDY SERIES
By VICTOR APPLETON
Author of “The Tom Swift Series”
Every red-blooded boy will enjoy the thrilling adventures of Don
Sturdy. In company with his uncles, one a big game hunter, the other
a noted scientist, he travels far and wide――into the jungles of South
America, across the Sahara, deep into the African jungle, up where the
Alaskan volcanoes spout, down among the head hunters of Borneo and many
other places where there is danger and excitement. Every boy who has
known Tom Swift will at once become the boon companion of daring Don
Sturdy.
DON STURDY ON THE DESERT OF MYSTERY
DON STURDY WITH THE BIG SNAKE HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN THE TOMBS OF GOLD
DON STURDY ACROSS THE NORTH POLE
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF VOLCANOES
DON STURDY IN THE PORT OF LOST SHIPS
DON STURDY AMONG THE GORILLAS
DON STURDY CAPTURED BY HEAD HUNTERS
DON STURDY IN LION LAND
DON STURDY IN THE LAND OF GIANTS
DON STURDY ON THE OCEAN BOTTOM
DON STURDY IN THE TEMPLES OF FEAR
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES
By FRANKLIN W. DIXON
=Illustrated. Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
No subject has so thoroughly caught the imagination of young America as
aviation. This series has been inspired by recent daring feats of the
air, and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Byrd, Chamberlin and other heroes
of the skies.
OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS;
_or, Ted Scott’s Daring Long Distance Flight_.
RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS;
_or, Ted Scott, Hero of the Air_.
OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL;
_or, Ted Scott, Lost in the Wilderness_.
FIRST STOP HONOLULU;
_or, Ted Scott Over the Pacific_.
THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS;
_or, Ted Scott Over the West Indies_.
SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE;
_or, Ted Scott On a Secret Mission_.
ACROSS THE PACIFIC;
_or, Ted Scott’s Hop to Australia_.
THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER;
_or, Ted Scott and the Diamond Smugglers_.
FLYING AGAINST TIME;
_or, Breaking the Ocean to Ocean Record_.
OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS;
_or, Ted Scott and the Missing Explorers_.
LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE;
_or, Ted Scott in Blizzard Land_.
THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA;
_or, Ted Scott’s Search in Nugget Valley_.
FLYING TO THE RESCUE;
_or, Ted Scott and the Big Dirigible_.
DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY;
_or, Ted Scott’s Great Mountain Climb_.
FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW;
_or, Ted Scott and the Great Eclipse_.
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
GREAT SPORT STORIES
For Every Sport Season
By HAROLD M. SHERMAN
Here’s an author who knows his sports from having played them. Baseball,
football, basketball, ice hockey, tennis, track――they’re all the same to
Harold M. Sherman. He puts the most thrilling moments of these sports
into his tales. Mr. Sherman is today’s most popular writer of sport
stories――all of which are crowded with action, suspense and clean,
vigorous fun.
_The Home Run Series_
Bases Full!
Hit by Pitcher
Safe!
Hit and Run
Double Play
Batter Up!
_The Basketball Series_
Mayfield’s Fighting Five
Get ’Em Mayfield
Shoot That Ball!
_The Gridiron Series_
Goal to Go
Hold That Line!
Touchdown
Block That Kick!
One Minute to Play
Fight ’Em, Big Three
_The Ice Hockey Series_
Flashing Steel
Flying Heels
Slashing Sticks
_Other Stories of Sport and Adventure_
The Land of Monsters
Beyond the Dog’s Nose
Cameron McBain, Backwoodsman
Ding Palmer, Air Detective
Don Rader, Trail Blazer
No. 44
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
THE REX LEE FLYING STORIES
By THOMSON BURTIS
=Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=
The author of this series of exciting flying stories is an experienced
aviator. He says, “During my five years in the army I performed
nearly every sort of flying duty――instructor, test pilot, bombing,
photographing pilot, etc., in every variety of ship, from tiny scout
planes to the gigantic three-motored Italian Caproni.”
Not only has this author had many experiences as a flyer; a list of his
activities while knocking around the country includes postal clerk,
hobo, actor, writer, mutton chop salesman, preacher, roughneck in the
oil fields, newspaper man, flyer, scenario writer in Hollywood and
synthetic clown with the Sells Floto Circus. Having lived an active,
daring life, and possessing a gift for good story telling, he is well
qualified to write these adventures of a red-blooded dare-devil young
American who became one of the country’s greatest flyers.
REX LEE; GYPSY FLYER
REX LEE; ON THE BORDER PATROL
REX LEE; RANGER OF THE SKY
REX LEE; SKY TRAILER
REX LEE; ACE OF THE AIR MAIL
REX LEE; NIGHT FLYER
REX LEE’S MYSTERIOUS FLIGHT
REX LEE; ROUGH RIDER OF THE AIR
REX LEE; AERIAL ACROBAT
REX LEE; TRAILING AIR BANDITS
REX LEE; FLYING DETECTIVE
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS
By JAMES CODY FERRIS
=Each Volume Complete in Itself.=
Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which
will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures in
the great open spaces.
The Manly boys, Roy and Teddy, are the sons of an old ranchman, the
owner of many thousands of heads of cattle. The lads know how to ride,
how to shoot, and how to take care of themselves under any and all
circumstances.
The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job when
required, but full of fun and daring――a bunch any reader will be
delighted to know.
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON
THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER
THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL
THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP
THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS
THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES
THE X BAR X BOYS RIDING FOR LIFE
THE X BAR X BOYS IN SMOKY VALLEY
GROSSET & DUNLAP, _Publishers_, NEW YORK
FLYING STORIES FOR BOYS
IN THE AIR WITH ANDY LANE
By EUSTACE L. ADAMS
=Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.=
Mr. Adams, the author of this flying series for boys is an experienced
aviator and has had many thrilling adventures in the air――both as a
member of the famous Lafayette Escadrille in the World War and in
the United States Naval Aviation Service flying with the squadrons
patrolling the Atlantic Coast. His stories reveal not only his ability
to tell daring and exciting air episodes but also his first hand
knowledge of modern aeroplanes and the marvelous technical improvements
which have been made in the past few years. Andy Lane flies the latest
and most highly developed machines in the field of aviation.
FIFTEEN DAYS IN THE AIR
OVER THE POLAR ICE
RACING ’ROUND THE WORLD
THE RUNAWAY AIRSHIP
PIRATES OF THE AIR
ON THE WINGS OF FLAME
THE MYSTERIOUS MONOPLANE
THE FLYING WINDMILL
THE PLANE WITHOUT A PILOT
WINGS OF ADVENTURE
ACROSS THE TOP OF THE WORLD
PRISONERS OF THE CLOUDS
GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK
Transcriber’s Notes:
――Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_); text in
bold by “equal” signs (=bold=).
――Printer’s, punctuation and spelling inaccuracies were silently
corrected.
――Archaic and variable spelling has been preserved.
――Variations in hyphenation and compound words have been preserved.