The box had been placed in the storeroom on the upper floor of the
tower, and the boys took up screwdrivers and hammers to open it.
The latter tools were not necessary, as the case was very carefully
screwed up; and when the top was taken off it was found that there
was an inside case of tin soldered up. As the boys were cutting
through this they expressed their opinion that, from the extreme
care taken, the contents must be very valuable. Still Mr. Hardy
would give no clew; and when the case was finally opened, the
astonishment of all was unbounded to find that it contained four
dozen large rockets and a dozen blue-lights. One dozen of these
rockets were ordinary signal rockets, but the rest were covered
with strong tin cases.
"Fireworks!" they all exclaimed in intense surprise. "What have you
brought fireworks all this way for, papa?"
"I will tell you, my dears. I knew that the Indians of the pampas
were horse Indians, and the idea struck me that as they could never
have seen rockets, they would be horribly scared at night by them.
rockets, you know, are used in war; and even if the riders are not
frightened, it is quite certain that the horses would be horribly
alarmed by one or two of these rushing fiery things charging into
their midst.
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