And again he struck it heavily with his pick, while his companions were around him instantly, dropping on their knees and examining the find.
“That’s one of them, without a doubt!” cried Lord Glenelg, as excited as any of the others. “Come! Let’s get it out. How very fortunate that we fixed the exact spot!”
The hearts of all three of us sank within us. How unfortunate for us, after all, that Walter had moved their paper-mark from its original position!
Chapter Twenty Five.
What the Buried Chest Contained.
From our hiding-place in the bushes we all three watched intently, wondering what was the nature of their find.
That they had discovered something of interest seemed certain, but from our position we could not see its nature. The whole four were in the deep hole, working eagerly and digging around what was apparently a strong chest buried in the earth.
The moments seemed hours, until at last, with loud gasps, they drew the object to the surface, and their lamps revealed it to be an old chest about five feet long, narrow, and looking in that uncertain light very much like a coffin. But it was, we saw, strongly protected by great bands of iron bolted upon it, and locked by three ancient locks along one side.