the trunk, were arranged differently, and they could not get at them.
Again it was John who suggested a plan whereby they could accomplish
their desires. "Just take a nail," he said, "and turn the head of it
around in the lock. I've watched my father do that, and he gets his
open every time."

The trunk, which was an old one, yielded quickly to the efforts made
by the boys; and upon raising the lid, they saw before them two shining
weapons that were supposed to have been carefully hidden away from their
inexperienced fingers. John and Will each quickly caught one up in his
hand; and Will began handling his as though it were a toy, but not so
did John.

John's father had taught him something of the dangers connected with the
handling of a gun or revolver. Besides, John was at one time present
when a duel was fought; and on that occasion one of the duelists was
killed. The memory of that incident and of his father's warnings, made
John very careful about pointing the revolver at either of his cousins.
It was, therefore, with intense fear that John looked into the barrel
of his cousin's revolver as Will snapped it, aimlessly pointing in his
direction; and John exclaimed, "Turn that thing away, or you'll shoot
me."

Will's answer was: "You needn't be afraid, John. This revolver isn't
loaded."

But John, seeing his cousin's careless attitude, was afraid; and he
dodged down behind a barrel of carpet-rags near which he had been
standing. It was well that John did not longer remain where he had been;
for the revolver contained a solitary load, and the frequent pulling of