It was growing dusk when the motor boat reached its old anchorage. The hungry lads set themselves at work getting supper at once, and Alex and Case volunteered to bring in fish! Clay and Don had made such a mess of their fishing expedition that the boys roared when a fish supper was mentioned.
“If we didn’t get fish,” Clay replied to their taunts, “we got something more valuable! I guess that iron box is worth more than a fish!”
“I don’t see as it is,” Tom grunted. “No one can get it open!”
“There ain’t no place to open it!” Alex complained. “I believe it is just a solid block of metal. It is heavy enough to be that!”
Case and Alex went ashore and followed down the bank, dropping lines into deep pools until they were out of sight of the Rambler. In the meantime Frost and King stood regarding the iron box. Indeed, there seemed to be no way of opening it. While they contemplated the puzzle a hail from shore was heard, and directly a man sprang aboard, the Rambler having been drawn close to the bank because of the loss of the rowboat.
“This is the sheriff,” King explained, as the boys regarded the newcomer with suspicion. “I presume he has news of Flint and Ike.”
“They confessed about as soon as they were placed under arrest,” the sheriff began, “and each one lays all the blame on the other. It seems that they knew from David Durand himself that articles of value would be left for his nephews to find, and ever since his death they have been looking for the treasure. They believed it to be a mine.”
“And they have been living in the old house?” asked Don.
“Yes, most of the time.”
“Then they weren’t far from something that was hidden,” the boy declared. “This box was secreted in the wall.”