A few inches of steel kept the gold safe.
Men beat it with their bare hands in a senseless fury, till Garry Cochrane slipped through the dense mass of sailors.
"I know something about locks.

What do I get, lads, if I open this one ?" "Five shares!" "Ten shares!" "Ten shares!" nodded Cochrane.

"Good! Now keep still.

I need quiet." They were mute; not a breath was drawn; they scarcely dared move their eyes lest he should be disturbed.

Cochrane touched the lock lightly and then rubbed his fingertips vigorously back and forth on the carpet-- anything to stimulate those fine nerves which are as valuable to some criminals as eyes are to normal people.
With ear pressed close to the combination, he turned it slowly, by delicate degrees, waiting for the telltale click.