CHAPTER XXVII
ON THE ALERT
The night of terror had been a severe strain on the boys, and, coupledwith the loss of sleep, made them feel completely fagged the nextmorning. Nature had seemed to be in league with their human enemies.Either would have been formidable enough alone, but combined theypresented a grim problem that it would tax all their resources to meetand overcome.
But there was no relaxation in their determination to defend themselvesto the last gasp. No one of them yielded to panic fears. They might godown, but if they did they would go down fighting.
"There's one benefit anyway that this eruption has brought us," remarkedBenton, as they were dispatching a hasty breakfast.
"That's what I call looking on the bright side of things with avengeance," remarked Dick. "I can't think of a single thing besidestrouble that it means to us."
"What I mean is this," explained Benton. "Up to now we haven't been atall certain as to when the bandits would attack us. It might be in aweek, it might be in a month. But now we know for certain. They'll tryto rush us tonight as sure as shooting."
"You must be the seventh son of a seventh son to fix the time soprecisely," observed Tom.
"I see where Jack is right," exclaimed Phil. "It's been all that Ramirezcould do to hold his men in check so far. He's done it by sheer force.But after last night there'll be no use trying to keep them in. They'llbe terror-stricken and want to get off the island just as soon aspossible. But of course they won't go until they have a hack at thetreasure. It's a dead certainty that they'll come for it to-night."
Tom and Dick yielded to the force of the reasoning.
"That being so," said Benton, "it's up to us to get busy, for we'regoing to have about the hardest day's work we ever did. They're figuringon a surprise. Well, they'll get it all right, but it won't be the kindthey're looking for.
"We've already got our weapons in good condition," Benton went on, "andwe don't need to pay much more attention to them. But the odds againstus are heavy and we've got to employ strategy. In the first place we'llstrengthen our barricades. Then we'll put into play something that Ilearned in the war. It's a mighty lucky thing that we brought alongplenty of blasting powder and dynamite when we started on this trip."
"Going to use the sticks of dynamite as sort of hand grenades?" askedDick.
"Better than that," Benton answered. "I'm going to concentrate them in amine that I hope will blow the rascals to kingdom come.
"Now here's what I have in mind. We'll dig a pit about three feet deepat a place twenty-five or thirty feet in front of the cave. This we'llstack with blasting powder and dynamite. Then we'll dig a small conduit,along which we'll run a wire connecting with the explosives and runningback to the cave. When the proper moment comes and the largest crowd isjust above the pit, we'll send a spark along the wire. And I think thatwill be about all. It'll probably put a lot of them out of business, andthe rest will be so terrified and confused that they'll probably maketracks to the other end of the island and get away from it as soon aspossible. What do you think of it?"
"It's a dandy plan," cried Phil with enthusiasm.
"It sure ought to turn the trick," exclaimed Dick.
"It'll be an artificial earthquake that will be worse for thosescoundrels than the real thing," jubilated Tom.
"I'm glad we're all agreed," said Benton with a gratified smile. "Nowthen let's pitch in and get the thing started. There's a good deal to bedone, and we've got to be especially careful about connecting theexplosives with the wire so that there won't be any fizzle when the timecomes. We'll work in relays and stand guard turn and turn about. We'vegot to keep a strict watch, for while I don't think they'll attack usbefore nightfall, you never can tell."
They started in to work at once, and toiled under the tropical sun untilthe perspiration rolled from them in streams. By the early afternoon,the work was completed to their satisfaction. The mine was laid, as wasalso the wire leading through a narrow trench to the cave, where it wasconnected with the battery of the radio set. Great care was taken torestore the ground to its former apparent condition, for although it wasunlikely that in the night it would be under special scrutiny they couldafford to take no chances. Leaves were scattered over the pit and thepath of the wire, and by the time they were through they could notthemselves have detected anything unusual in the appearance of theground.
"A good job," pronounced Benton, as he scanned it with a critical eye."Now let them come as soon as they like, and I imagine they'll go awayquicker than they came. That is, those of them who can get away."
The boys in their turn at sentry duty had seen nothing suspicious. Notan unusual sound or sight had come within their range, though they hadwatched and listened with the intensity of those who knew that theirlives might pay the forfeit of the least carelessness.
Nature too seemed to have relapsed into quiet. The mountain still smokedand there were occasional rumblings, while at times the earth trembled.But the giant of the volcano, if not sleeping soundly was at leastdozing, and the boys took heart of hope from this circumstance. Humanenemies they might fight, but before the unleashed forces of nature theywere helpless.
Bimbo had prepared a good meal, and the boys after their hard work fellto with zest.
"Lay into it, boys," said Benton approvingly. "Hungry men can't fightwell. It was Napoleon you know who said that an army was like asnake--it moved along on its stomach."
They needed no urging, and Bimbo, despite his apprehension, grinned withsatisfaction at the tribute paid to his cooking.
The long afternoon dragged on, the hours seeming all the longer becausethey had nothing to do but wait. And waiting was vastly more trying thanworking, for they had nothing to distract their minds from the ordealthat was coming.
They welcomed the shadows when they began to creep along the westernsky. Twilight deepened into darkness. There was no moon, and the onlylight there was came from the stars.
Still the attack was delayed. An hour passed on and then another. Hadthey been mistaken then in believing that the struggle would come thatnight?
"Not at all," affirmed Benton, when Dick had expressed a doubt. "They'resimply waiting until they think we're fast asleep and they can bag uswithout having to do much fighting. They're mighty careful of theirprecious skins."
It lacked about half an hour of midnight when Phil, who had been onsentry duty, came slipping into the cave as silently as a panther.
"I think they're coming," he announced in a voice little above awhisper. "I heard the crackling of twigs, and in a flare of light thatcame from the volcano I saw moving bodies some distance off in thewoods. They'll probably be here in ten minutes."
After the long period of waiting the news brought positive relief. Hereat least was a promise of action.
"Don't fire until I give the word," ordered Benton, as he disposed hislittle force to the best advantage. "Keep under cover as well as you canand make every shot tell. A good deal depends upon the hot reception wegive them at the start. You, Phil, keep your finger near the key of thebattery and be ready to press it on the instant."
When all was ready a stillness as of death prevailed in the cave. Withevery sense on the alert, their ears strained and their eyes trying topierce the darkness, the boys lay outstretched, their weapons in theirhands, their blood racing madly through their veins, their heartstrumping in excitement.
Ten minutes passed--then twenty--thirty. Then to their ears came faintrustlings, and they thought, though they were not sure, that they couldsee shadowy forms stealing about from tree to tree like so manyphantoms.
A period of absolute silence ensued. Then suddenly there rose a wildyell, a volley of bullets whistled over their heads and pattered againstthe stones of the barricade, and from all directions the outlaws camerushing toward the cave!
The Radio Boys Under the Sea; or, The Hunt for Sunken Treasure Page 27