Wicks put
in 100 pounds, and stood to draw captain's wages for
two months; his taking was 333 pounds, 3 shillings 6
1/2 pence. Carthew had put in 150 pounds: he was to
take out 401 pounds, 18 shillings 62 pence. Tommy's
500 pounds had grown to be 1213 pounds, 12 shillings 9
3/4 pence; and Amalu and Hemstead, ranking for wages
only, had 22 pounds, 16 shillings 1/2 pence each.
From talking and brooding on these figures it was but a
step to opening the chest, and once the chest open the
glamour of the cash was irresistible. Each felt that
he must see his treasure separate with the eye of
flesh, handle it in the hard coin, mark it for his own,
and stand forth to himself the approved owner. And
here an insurmountable difficulty barred the way.
There were some seventeen shillings in English silver,
the rest was Chile; and the Chile dollar, which had
been taken at the rate of six to the pound sterling,
was practically their smallest coin. It was decided,
therefore, to divide the pounds only, and to throw the
shillings, pence, and fractions in a common fund.
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