Mastering a feeling of dread, Merritt helped the professor to raise the picture. Under it was an old sea cloak, a brass spy glass of antique make, and an old-fashioned compass and—that was all.
“It begins to look as if my ancestor had played a grim joke on posterity,” said the major; “however, let us see what is in the other two boxes.”
Crash!
Down came Merritt’s axe on the first of the remaining two chests. The lid flew open with such suddenness that it startled them. It was operated by concealed springs.
As the light of the lanterns fell on the contents of this box, however, all doubt as to the success of the quest was removed. It was filled to the brim with golden candlesticks, vases, plates and cups of priceless value. Some of them flashed with gems. The hoarded treasure of the wicked old pirate of the Spanish seas lay before them.
“Now the other,” said the professor in a faint voice, “I can hardly believe my eyes.”
“It does seem incredible,” commented the major.
The contents of the other chest, which was speedily opened, proved to be of the same nature as that of the second one rifled. On the interior of the lid, however, there had been a secret chamber. The spring of this, rotten with age, gave way as the cover was lifted. A niagara of coins of all nations, Spanish doubloons, French crowns, English Rose nobles and florins, and queerly-marked Oriental wealth, flowed out.
“What should you think was the value of all this, professor?” asked the major when he recovered his voice.
“At least two million dollars,” was the rejoinder in tones the man of science tried in vain to render steady.