"A great big strong chest."
"Anybody could break it open, though."
"Yes, but it's locked; and you know it's against the law to break a lock."
"Well," said Fred, with a great sigh, "I hope there won't anybody disturb you, but I hope you will fasten all the windows and doors to-night."
"We always do; and then," added the benign old lady, raising her head so as to look under her spectacles in the face of the lad, "you know we have you to take care of us."
"Have you got a gun in the house?"
"Mercy, yes; there's one over the fire-place, where father put it forty years ago."
"Is there anything the matter with it?"
"Nothing, only the lock is broke off, and I think father said the barrel was bursted."