Frank backed out of the weeds, crouchingly made his way back to Lanky, beckoned him to follow and, without words, they got back to the barn thence to the trail behind.
Here Frank laid a new scheme of exploration, and took Lanky with him while the other boys, Paul, Buster and Ralph, watched.
Into the rear of the barn, up the ladder to the loft, and then a search. Frank led, for he felt he knew where the sounds had been made—and success was his at once.
Under a small amount of hay was a large box, or chest, roughly looking like the one they had seen the night on the rowboat.
It required no tug, no hardship—just the lifting of the lid, after pitching the hay aside, and there they saw, within the chest, piece after piece of silver of all kinds, the dining-room treasure which Mrs. Parsons had lost!
CHAPTER XII
STOPPED BY THE HAND OF FATE
Though such an idea had been finding a home in the brain of Frank Allen, it was a distinct shock to him when he saw the contents of that chest.
Lanky gasped in the utmost surprise, and looked at the many pieces with wide eyes.
There were knives and forks, and many spoons of all sizes and kinds; there were plates and salad pieces, small pitchers and shells, some gold lined and others plain sterling silver; literally hundreds and hundreds of pieces, enough for a dozen families.