“A lie may be made to seem very natural,” answered Roswell Gardiner, “if it has been put together by one who understands knotting and splicing in such matters.  Did this Daggett name the amount of the sum that he supposed the pirates may have left on that key?”

“He did,” returned the deacon, the whole of his narrow and craving soul seeming to gleam in his two sunken eyes as he answered.  “According to the account of the pirate, there could not have been much less than thirty thousand dollars, and nearly all of it in good doubloons of the coin of the kings—­doubloons that will weigh their full sixteens to the pound—­ay, and to spare!”

“The Sea Lion’s cargo, well chosen and well stowed, would double that, deacon, if the right animals can only be found.”

“May be so—­but, just think, Gardner—­this will be in good bright coined gold!”

“But what right can we have to that gold, even admitting that it is there, and can be found?”

“Right!” exclaimed the deacon, staring.  “Does not that which Divine Providence gives man become his own?”

“By the same rule it might be said Divine Providence gave it to the pirates.  There must be lawful owners to all this money, if one could only find them.”

“Ay, if one could only find them.  Harkee, Gar’ner; have you spent a shilling or a quarter lately?”

“A good many of both, deacon,” answered the young man, again betraying the lightness of his heart with a laugh.  “I wish I had more of your saving temper, and I might get rich.  Yes, I spent a quarter only two hours since, in buying fish for the cabin, of old Baiting Joe.”

“Well, tell me the impression of that quarter.  Had it a head, or only pillars?  What was its date, and in whose reign was it struck?  Maybe it was from the mint at Philadelphia—­if so, had it the old eagle or the new?  In a word, could you swear to that quarter, Gar’ner, or to any quarter you ever spent in your life?”

“Perhaps not, deacon.  A fellow doesn’t sit down to take likenesses, when he gets a little silver or gold.”

“Nor is it very probable that any one could say—­’that is my doubloon.’”

“Still there must be a lawful owner to each piece of that money, if any such money be there,” returned Roswell Gardiner, a little positively.  “Have you ever talked with Mary, deacon, on this subject?”

“I talk of such a matter with a woman!  Do you think I’m mad, Gar’ner?  If I wanted to have the secret run through old Suffolk, as fire runs over the salt meadows in the spring, I might think of such a thing:  but not without.  I have talked with no one but the master of the craft that I am about to send out in search of this gold, as well as in search of the sealing-islands I have shown you.  Had there been but one object in view, I might not have ventured so much; but with two before my eyes, it would seem like flying in the face of Divine Providence to neglect so great an opportunity!”