41 Lure O Gold 1904

The Bulkhead Door
been drawn, and the big padlocked bar that I had often
noticed there was slipped aside.
I had been curious about the construction of the
steamer, and the Doctor, who was quite familiar with
such matters, had told me much about her,
so that I
knew that behind that bulkhead door was the wing in
which were the coal bunkers, and that after this
the main freight-hold between decks.
was
I struck another match and glanced about at the
empty
berths of Somers and Trust. I looked at the
trunk, which stood near by, and, as it no doubt still
remained locked, I peered about for something with
which I might smash in its top and get my gold. Luckily
for me, as it chanced, I could find nothing to serve as a
tool for that purpose. I struck match after match, and
looked carefully at the trunk. One detail I noticed
the brass chain had been slipped off the cover and was
lying to one side, the hasp of the padlock being opened
and the key being in the lock. But when I tried to
open the trunk I found it securely fastened. It oc
curred to me to lift it again, and, taking hold of a side
handle, I raised one end quite easily. Whatever the
weight was that had made the trunk so heavy before,
it was not there now.
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