"Lift me up here, Tom!" commanded the girl. "I want to scramble up on the ledge."
"You'll hurt yourself."
"Nonsense! Can't I climb a tree almost as well as Ann Hicks?"
He gave her a lift and Ruth scrambled over the edge with a little squeal.
"Oh, oh, oh!" she cried. "Here's something."
"Must be," grunted Tom, trying to climb up himself. "Why, I declare, Ruthie! that's a box."
"It's a little chest. It's ironbound, too. My! how heavy. I can't lift it."
"Tumble it down and let's see," commanded Ralph, holding the lantern.
Ruth sat down suddenly and looked at the boys.
"I don't know," she said. "I don't know that we've got any right to touch it. It's padlocked. Maybe it is old Mr. Tilton's treasure-box."