"What next ?" The next thing was a small square box wrapped in something soft, and occupying the bottom corner of the chest, while the rest of the space was occupied by small boxes that were not wrapped in paper, but fastened down with copper nails, and on each was painted the big figures--250.
I handed out eight of these little boxes, and they, being pretty heavy, were placed close beside the wall of the office.
"That's all," I said, and, concluding that it was the proper thing to do, we replaced the shavings and saw-dust in the chest, shut down the lid, put the loose screws in a piece of paper, and tied them to one of the clamps before pushing the chest aside and making all tidy.
This done, we hovered, as it were, about the table with longing eyes and itching fingers, ending by looking at each other.
"I say," said Bigley; "didn't your father say that we were to unpack the box ?" "Yes, and we've done it," I replied rather sulkily.
"Well, oughtn't we to take the things out of the paper, and lay the paper all neatly and save the string ?" "Think so ?" I said longingly.
Bigley hesitated, took up a packet, turned it over, balanced it in his hand, laid it down again, and rearranged several of the others without speaking, but he heaved a deep sigh.
"Think we ought to unpack them further ?" I said.
"No," said Bigley unwillingly.

"I don't think it would be right.

Do you ?" "No," I said with a sigh; "but I should like to have a look." We two lads went on hovering about the table, peering at first one packet and then at another, feeling them up and down, and quite convincing ourselves that certain ones were a little more ornamental than others.

There was no doubt about it, we felt.

They were swords, pistols, and carbines.
"Here, I know," I exclaimed.
"Know what, Sep ?" "The boxes, 250." "Well, what about 'em ?" "Cartridges," I said.