"
Thanking them for their interest in him and bidding them good-bye for
the present, he entered his father's house, where a hearty meal was
spread before him.
When the meal was over, David opened his little bundle and displayed his
pearls and corals and said: "I have brought you all a present from my
island." All stood in astonishment and admired them.
"My, my," cried Uncle Philip, examining them closely, "you have brought
some valuable things. These pearls and corals will yield much money, for
some of them are very large. Now you have helped your father out of all
his debts and trouble."
"No, no," said his father, "we will share them with Peter and yourself.
You shared the dangers of this trip with me, and you shall also share
the treasures. Philip, you take first choice, and then Peter next."
Two of the men who had offered to go on the trip for money, now entered
the room and wished they had gone for nothing. "For such a reward as
that," they said, "it would have been worth while."
"Go, go, you poor, miserable wretches," cried Philip, "you wouldn't move
a hand or foot to help a fellow man in trouble without being paid for
it. It serves you right that you get nothing,"
"I wish none of this money," continued Philip, "I have enough and ask no
more. But Peter must take his share, for the spirit which he showed gave
all of us courage, and he must be rewarded. Besides, he needs it."
Deeply touched, Peter took the reward with thanks.
Then the grateful parents again urged Philip to take the pearls, but he
replied: "Let it be, as I said before.
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