, though he had done the best he could, it was rather a
rickety concern. If the nails had been all whole and new and he had had
a good hammer and strong boards he could easily have made a satisfactory
raft.

But the materials at his command were by no means of the best. The nails
were nearly all rusty, some were snapped off in the middle and his stone
did not work with the precision of a regular hammer.

"If it will only hold together till I can get to shore," he thought, "I
won't care if it goes to pieces the next minute. It seems a little
shaky, though. I must try to find a few more nails. It may increase the
strength of it."

There was an end of a beam projecting from the sand, just at his feet.

Robert expected that probably he might by unearthing it find somewhere
about it a few nails, and he accordingly commenced operations.

If he had had a shovel or a spade, he could have worked to better
advantage, but as it was he was forced to content himself with a large
shell which he picked up near the shore.

Soon he had excavated a considerable amount of sand and brought to the
surface a considerable part of the buried beam. It was at this point
that he felt the shell strike something hard.

"I suppose it is a stone," thought Robert.

And he continued his work with the object of getting it out of the way.
It was not long before the object was exposed to view.

What was Robert's surprise and excitement to find it an ivory
portemonnaie, very much soiled and discolored by sea water!

Now, I suppose no one can find a purse or pocketbook without feeling his
pulse a little quickened, especially where, as in Robert's case, money
is so much needed.

He immediately opened the portemonnaie, and to his great delight found
that it contained several gold pieces.

As my readers will feel curious to know the extent of his good luck, I
will state definitely the amount of his discovery. There were two gold
ten-dollar pieces, two of five, one two-dollar-and-a-half piece and
fifty cents in silver. In all there were thirty-three dollars in gold
and silver.

Robert's delight may be imagined. If he had felt in luck the day before,
when he had been paid two dollars, how much more was he elated by a sum
which to him seemed almost a fortune!

"I am glad George didn't take me on board his boat," he reflected. "If
he had, I should never have found this money. Now, I don't care if I do
stay here all night. Uncle had little idea wha