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26 Into the sea I cast our wealth, which I earned with the sweat of my brow.' I shall then throw the box into the sea, and whilst I am about to do this I will open the lid and let them see the jewels, as otherwise they will imagine that I am bluffing them."

"Will you really throw all the jewels into the sea, dear father?"

"Of course I will, dear boy."

"But we shall be poor."

"Better poor and alive than rich and dead. Do you agree, my boy?"

"Yes, I will do exactly as you have told me."

They immediately began to play their part, for they realized that the sooner the jewels were overboard the safer it would be. They went on deck and began to talk in an excited manner. High words began to pass between them. The crew listened. At last they began to abuse one another and the quarrel seemed so serious that all the crew assembled to look on and enjoy the fun. When the father struck the son, they seemed to the crew to be two madmen. But they could hardly believe their eyes when they saw the old man dragging the precious jewel box across the deck.

"What's he going to do now?" they asked one another in bated breath. "Perhaps he will scatter the gems over the deck and we shall have a lovely scramble."