It was very light, probably empty.

In it he might find the dust of John Ball's last tobacco.

Then, suddenly, as he thought of this, he stopped in his search and a muffled exclamation of surprise fell from him.

In the glow of the torch he looked at the tin box.

It was crumbling with age and he might easily have crushed it in his hand--and yet it was still a tin box! If this box had remained why had not other things?
Where were the pans and kettles, the pail and frying-pan, knives, cups and other articles which John Ball and the two Frenchmen must at one time have possessed in this cabin?
He returned to the door.