John seized the handles and strove to lift the box; but it was impossible.
"What can it contain, that is so heavy ?" he thought.

He sought to open it; but lock and padlock were closed, and these faithful guardians seemed unwilling to surrender their trust.

Stevens inserted the sharp end of the crowbar between the box and the lid and, bearing down with all his strength, burst open the fastenings.

Hinges and lock yielded in their turn, holding in their grasp fragments of the boards, and with a crash he threw off the lid, and all was open.
John Stevens found a tanned fawn-skin spread as a covering over the contents and he tore it off.

He started up with a yell and closed his eyes involuntarily.