What did the box contain? Before returning to Will Tree, Godfrey had a try at opening it.
He began by unbuckling the straps, and once they were off he very carefully lifted the leather shield which protected the lock. But how was he to force it?
It was a difficult job. Godfrey had no lever with which to bring his strength to bear. He had to guard against the risk of breaking his knife, and so he looked about for a heavy stone with which he could start the staple.
The beach was strewn with lumps of hard silex in every form which could do for a hammer.
Godfrey picked out one as thick as his wrist, and with it he gave a tremendous whack on the plate of copper.
To his extreme surprise the bolt shot through the staple immediately gave way.
Either the staple was broken by the blow, or the lock was not turned.
Godfrey's heart beat high as he stooped to lift up the box lid.
It rose unchecked, and in truth had Godfrey had to get it to pieces he would not have done so without trouble. The trunk was a regular strong-box. The interior was lined with sheet zinc, so that the sea-water had failed to penetrate. The objects it contained, however delicate they might be, would be found in a perfect state of preservation.