And Last

           Thenextmorningwefellearlytowork,forthetransportationofthisgreatmassofgoldnearamilebylandtothebeach,andthencethreemilesbyboattotheHispaniola,wasaconsiderabletaskforsosmallanumberofworkmen.Thethreefellowsstillabroadupontheislanddidnotgreatlytroubleus;asinglesentryontheshoulderofthehillwassufficienttoensureusagainstanysuddenonslaught,andwethought,besides,theyhadhadmorethanenoughoffighting.

           Thereforetheworkwaspushedonbriskly.GrayandBenGunncameandwentwiththeboat,whiletherestduringtheirabsencespiledtreasureonthebeach.Twoofthebars,slunginarope’send,madeagoodloadforagrownman—onethathewasgladtowalkslowlywith.Formypart,asIwasnotmuchuseatcarrying,Iwaskeptbusyalldayinthecavepackingthemintedmoneyintobread-bags.

           Itwasastrangecollection,likeBillyBones’shoardforthediversityofcoinage,butsomuchlargerandsomuchmorevariedthatIthinkIneverhadmorepleasurethaninsortingthem.English,French,Spanish,Portuguese,Georges,andLouises,doubloonsanddoubleguineasandmoidoresandsequins,thepicturesofallthekingsofEuropeforthelasthundredyears,strangeOrientalpiecesstampedwithwhatlookedlikewispsofstringorbitsofspider’sweb,roundpiecesandsquarepieces,andpiecesboredthroughthemiddle,asiftowearthemroundyourneck—nearlyeveryvarietyofmoneyintheworldmust,Ithink,havefoundaplaceinthatcollection;andfornumber,Iamsuretheywerelikeautumnleaves,sothatmybackachedwithstoopingandmyfingerswithsortingthemout.

           Dayafterdaythisworkwenton;byeveryeveningafortunehadbeenstowedaboard,buttherewasanotherfortunewaitingforthemorrow;andallthistimeweheardnothingofthethreesurvivingmutineers.