minds so constituted
originally as to submit to an undue love of money, the passion appears to
increase, as others more dependent on youth, and strength, and enterprise,
and ambition, gradually become of diminished force, slowly but surely
usurping the entire sway over a being that was once subject to many
masters. Thus had it been with the deacon. Nearly all his passions now
centred in this one. He no longer cared for preferment in politics, though
once it had been the source of a strong desire to represent Suffolk at
Albany; even the meeting, and its honours, was loosening its hold on his
mind; while his fellow-men, his kindred included, were regarded by him as
little more than so many competitors, or tools.

"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 m