The iron receptacles were much rusted. Each had two heavy padlocks, both of them locked.
“We’ll have to take them aboard the Firefly before we can open them,” said Captain Corning. Then without delay the transfer of the boxes and the silver- and goldware was begun.
CHAPTER XXX
HOME AGAIN—CONCLUSION
“Gee, suppose the boxes are empty!” murmured Andy while on the way to the yacht.
“If they were they wouldn’t be so heavy,” answered Jack.
“And it isn’t likely they’d be locked,” added Fred.
They were soon aboard the Firefly and then Captain Corning had one of the men bring a cold chisel and a hammer, and with these implements the rusty and worn padlocks on the six chests were knocked off without great trouble.
A cry of amazement and delight burst from the boys when the covers of the various boxes were pried open and thrown back. There before their gaze was revealed a confused mass of gold and silver coins, jewelry, and many golden medals, and also eighteen small cases which when opened in their turn revealed articles set with diamonds and other precious stones. One case contained two strings of beautiful pearls and another a cross set in the finest kind of diamonds.