Moving to one corner of the box top he pushed aside a board and plunged his hand into the interior.

It was as he had hoped.

According to custom when the box had been emptied the jute and shredded paper stuffing of its contents had been thrust back into it for future use.
Feverishly, Gavin began to pull forth great handfuls of paper and of excelsior.

These he piled onto the box top.

Then, exerting all his skilled strength, he tugged at the narrow iron strip which bound, lengthwise, one side of the box.
This task was by no means easy, for the nails were long.