"He sho' would take his trunk," said Gunning, "an' dat's a fact."
"Why would he?" asked Mrs. Sackett.
"'Cause he take good care o' dat trunk, ma'm. He sleep wid one eye on it an' his gun handy. I come near gettin' killed onct when I come into de cabin, suddin' like, while he was at work ober de things inside."
"For Heaven's sake, let's look at it," said Mrs. Sackett.
"'Tis th' best thing we cud do," said Chips. "'Tis no less than solid gold he stowed in it. Faith, it's as heavy as th' main yard."
Mrs. Sackett led the way to the captain's room, and Trunnell made no farther resistance. She opened the door, and we crowded inside. There lay the trunk on the floor or deck ahead of us.
"Try yer hand at th' liftin' av th' thing," said Chips to me.
I reached down and took hold of the handle at the side. Pulling heavily,
I lifted with all my power. The trunk remained stationary.
"Dere's nothin' but gold in dat thing, sho'," said Gunning.
"Well, for Heaven's sake! why don't some one open it?" cried Jennie.