“Thousand dollar greenbacks, may be,” said Fred, in the same low whisper.
“Or bonds, perhaps,” suggested Eugene.
The hunter’s face expressed great astonishment. He had expected to find the trunk very heavy, but he lifted it with all ease with one hand. He had overheard the old man’s words, however, and dashed at the box like a hound on a fresh trail. So great was his eagerness and impatience to see the inside of it, that his hands trembled with such violence that he could not undo the rope. The longer he tried the more the knot was jammed; and at last Zack, fully as impatient as his companion, whipped out his knife, cut the rope, and with one savage kick sent the lid flying into the air.
The old man groaned and the boys arose to their feet to obtain a view of the contents of the box. They could see no money or packages that might contain money or other valuables—nothing but a small brass frame, the inside of which was filled with wheels and weights made of the same material, the whole contrivance somewhat resembling the works of a clock. Silas stared at it a moment and then jerked it out of the box and threw it on the ground behind him, expecting no doubt to find something hidden under it. But this was all. The hunter then picked up the trunk, shook it, looked at it all over, thumped it with his knuckles, and then to make sure that it contained no secret compartments, dashed it in pieces on the ground and carefully examined each separate fragment. He was astounded, and so were the boys, who were looking on with almost breathless interest.
“Whar is it, old man?” panted Silas, scarcely able to speak, so great was his excitement.
“Why there it is,” said the Pike, gazing ruefully at his machine, and then at the ruins of his trunk. “There’s uncounted millions in it!”
“In that?” shouted Silas. “Whar’s the money?”
“I have no money. That is yet to be earned.”
A long silence followed this reply. The expression of rage and disappointment on the hunters’ faces was curious to behold.