And he adjusted the box upon its side, and with some blows of an axe burst the lock open.
I threw myself beside him, as he replaced the box on its bottom and removed the lid.

I cannot tell what I expected; a million's worth of diamonds might perhaps have pleased me; my cheeks burned, my heart throbbed to bursting; and lo! there was disclosed but a trayful of papers, neatly taped, and a cheque-book of the customary pattern.

I made a snatch at the tray to see what was beneath; but the captain's hand fell on mine, heavy and hard.
"Now, boss!" he cried, not unkindly, "is this to be run shipshape?
or is it a Dutch grab-racket ?" And he proceeded to untie and run over the contents of the papers, with a serious face and what seemed an ostentation of delay.

Me and my impatience it would appear he had forgotten; for when he was quite done, he sat a while thinking, whistled a bar or two, refolded the papers, tied them up again; and then, and not before, deliberately raised the tray.
I saw a cigar-box, tied with a piece of fishing-line, and four fat canvas-bags.

Nares whipped out his knife, cut the line, and opened the box.