For a minute or two the men stood staring at each other over the great
treasure which they had unearthed in that dread place, shaking with
the reaction of their first excitement, and scarcely able to speak.
"How deep du it go?" said George at length.
Harold took his knife and loosed some of the top coins, which were
very tightly packed, till he could move his hand in them freely. Then
he pulled out handful after handful of every sort of gold coin. There
were Rose Nobles of Edward IV.; Sovereigns and Angels of Henry VII.
and VIII.; Sovereigns, Half-Sovereigns and gold Crowns of Edward VI.;
Sovereigns, Rials, and Angels of Mary; Sovereigns, Double Crowns and
Crowns of Elizabeth; Thirty-shilling pieces, Spur Rials, Angels,
Unites and Laurels of James I.; Three-pound pieces, Broads, and Half
Broads of Charles I.; some in greater quantity and some in less; all
were represented. Handful after handful did he pull out, and yet the
bottom was not reached. At last he came to it. The layer of gold
pieces was about twenty inches broad by three feet six long.
"We must get this into the house, George, before any one is about,"
gasped the Colonel.
"Yes, sir, yes, for sure we must; but how be we a-going to carry it?"
Harold thought for a minute, and then acted thus.
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