“So are mine,” said Fred. “The floor looks perfectly flat to me too, and I think I see a box or something up ahead there.”
“I guess you do,” John agreed. “I see something myself.”
They proceeded cautiously on their way until they came to the box in question.
“It’s a chest,” exclaimed John, bending over. “It’s iron, too,” and he gave it a kick. The clang of the metal echoed and reëchoed through the cave producing a weird sound and sending the shivers coursing up and down the spines of the boys.
“It sounds hollow,” said Grant in a low voice.
“I guess it is,” John agreed.
“Lift it and see,” directed George. “Aren’t there any handles on it?”
John felt around the sides of the chest and finally discovered that there was a handle on one end. He pulled and lifted with all his might, but not one inch could he budge it.
“Whew, there must be something in it,” he panted. “It’s certainly heavy enough.”
“It’s probably full of gold,” exclaimed George excitedly. “Gold is awfully heavy.”