“Hurrah! just the thing!” exclaimed Sam. He did not relish the long tramp through the thorn bushes and tangle of vines.
Dick’s idea was acceptable to all, and they set off without further delay. They took the path leading to the shattered cave, and then mounted the small hill Dick had mentioned. Close to the top stood a large tree.
“Let me go up!” exclaimed Tom, who could climb like a cat, and he started without delay.
“Look out that you don’t break your neck!” cried his parent.
“I’ll be careful,” answered the fun-loving youth. “This just suits me!” he added, enthusiastically.
“Can’t I go, too?” asked Sam.
“If you are careful,” answered Mr. Rover, and up went the lad, right on the heels of his brother. It was rather difficult work getting from limb to limb, for some were wide apart, but the vines, which used the tree as a trellis, aided them greatly. Soon Tom was close to the top and Sam speedily joined him. Then each took his turn at looking through the spyglass.
“I see the Rainbow!” cried Tom. “She is headed for the north side of the isle.”
“Yes, and yonder is another vessel,” returned Sam, as he pointed the glass in the direction. “That must be the Josephine.” And then the two youths shouted the news to those below.
After that the boys watched the progress of the steam yacht with interest, keeping those below informed of all that was going on. They saw the Rainbow draw closer to the other vessel, and saw the small boat leave the steam yacht.
“Four men are rowing to the other vessel,” announced Tom. “We can’t make out who they are.”
They saw the four men board the other vessel and disappear, presumably into the cabin. Then came a wait of over half an hour.
“This is getting tiresome,” said Tom.
“You can go below if you want to,” answered Dick, who had come up, followed by Songbird.
Tom descended to the ground and Sam followed him. They had just done this when there came a cry from Dick:
“Two boats are putting off from that other vessel! Each of them is filled with men!”
“Are they coming ashore or going to my yacht?” demanded Captain Barforth.
“They are heading for the yacht!”
“They intend to capture the Rainbow!” groaned Mr. Rover. “Oh, if only we were on board!”
In his anxiety to see what was being done, he climbed the tree and so did the captain. Then the others came up, the tree being large and strong even at the top and capable of holding a good weight.
“If those rascals try to take my vessel I’ll have them all hung!” roared Captain Barforth, and trembled with rage. “Oh, if only I was on board!” And he clenched his fists.
“Look! look!” ejaculated Dick, who had the spyglass. “I think—yes, the Rainbow is moving!”
“Moving!” came from the others.
“Yes, and she is turning away from the other vessel and from those in the rowboats!”
“Let me see,” said the captain and took the spyglass. “You are right, Dick. The Rainbow is running away from them!”
The news was true, the steam yacht was indeed running away from the Josephine and from those in the rowboats who had set out to take possession of her. It was a time of great excitement.
“The rowboats are getting close to the Rainbow,” said Tom, who had taken the glass. “The yacht doesn’t seem to have much steam up.”
“Perhaps the fires were banked when Carey left,” suggested the captain. “Maybe they were put out, so the vessel couldn’t move.”
The steam yacht was moving slowly and those in the two rowboats were making every effort to catch up to her. Then the black smoke began to pour from the funnel of the Josephine.
“The other vessel is getting up steam,” said Mr. Rover. “She may catch the Rainbow even if those in the rowboats do not.”
Closer and closer to the steam yacht drew the two rowboats, until it looked as if the Rainbow would surely be boarded by the enemy. Then of a sudden there came a cloud of smoke from the deck of the steam yacht, followed by a stream of sparks which went whizzing just over the rowboats. Then followed more sparks, and balls of fire, red, white and blue.
“What in the world are they doing?” murmured Captain Barforth.
“They are shooting off something, but it is not a gun or a cannon,” answered Mr. Rover.
“Hurrah! I know what it is!” cried Tom “Good for Fred and Hans! Those are my fireworks—those I had left from the Fourth of July celebration. They are giving them a dose of rockets and Roman candles!”
This news was true, and as the rockets and Roman candles hit the rowboats and the occupants the latter stopped rowing and then began to back water in confusion. Soon the rowboats turned back and hastened to the side of the Josephine.
“That’s what I call repelling boarders!” said Captain Barforth, grimly. “I only hope the fireworks hold out.”
“It is now to be a race between the Rainbow and that other craft,” observed Mr. Rover, and he was right. Inside of fifteen minutes both vessels were headed out to sea, and running at about the same rate of speed. Soon the haze over the water hid both craft from view.
“Well, one thing is certain,” said Mr. Rover. “Our friends are alive to their danger and are going to do their best to get away from the enemy.”
“And another thing is that we are left marooned on this isle,” said the captain.
The party remained in the tree a while longer, and then, as there seemed nothing else to do, they descended to the ground.
“Well, we have one thing in our favor,” was Dick’s comment. “Sid Merrick and his crowd must be on the Josephine, or they wouldn’t chase the Rainbow, and that being so they can’t interrupt our treasure hunt, at least for the present.”
“But if they capture our steam yacht how are we to get away from here, even if we do uncover the treasure?” said Sam.
“We’ll get away somehow—and make it good and hot for them in the bargain,” answered Tom, and his father nodded in approval.
With their thoughts on the Rainbow and those on board, the treasure hunters went back to the vicinity of the shattered cave. Nobody felt much like working, yet to remain idle made the time hang heavily on their hands.
“There is no use of our going to work in a haphazard fashion,” were Mr. Rover’s words. “We must first go over the ground carefully and plan out just what is best to do. Otherwise a good portion of our energies will be wasted.”
This was sound advice and was followed out. They surveyed the whole vicinity with care, poking in among the rocks with long sticks, and turning over such as were loose and easily moved.
“This looks as if it was going to be a long winded job,” was Sam’s comment, and he heaved a sigh. “I thought we’d come here, march into the cave, and put our hands right on the gold and diamonds!”
Dick was a short distance away, poking into a hole with a stick. The stick was over eight feet long, but the end did not appear to touch anything.
“There is some kind of a hollow below here,” he said to the others. “I think we ought to investigate and see how large it is.”
The others agreed with him, and all set to work to pull aside half a dozen rocks which were in the way. They had to use all their strength and even then the largest of the stones refused to budge.
“Let us get a small tree and use it for a pry,” suggested Mr. Rover.
They had an ax with them, and Tom cut down the tree and trimmed it. Then, resting the log on one stone, they inserted the end under the big rock and pressed down with all their might.
“She’s coming!” shouted Sam, as the big stone commenced to move.
“Yes, and look at the opening underneath,” added Dick. “It must surely be part of the cave!”
The sight of the big h
ole made all eager to know if it was really a portion of the shattered cave and they worked on the big rock with renewed energy. Twice it slipped back on them, but then they got a new purchase and over it went and rolled out of the way. Then all of the treasure hunters got on their hands and knees to gaze down into the hole.
“It must be part of the cave,” said Mr. Rover.
“I’ll climb down on the rope,” said Tom. “Hurry up, I can’t wait!”
“You be careful, Tom, or you’ll get hurt,” warned his father. But it must be confessed he was as eager as his son to learn whether or not they had discovered the treasure cave.
Tom went down, and Dick and Sam came after him. The bottom of the hole was rough. On one side was another opening, leading to what certainly looked like a cave of considerable extent.
“Drop down the lantern,” called Dick, and Captain Barforth did so. With the lantern lit Dick crawled into the side opening and his brothers followed.
“This is certainly a cave,” said Tom. “But whether it is the right one or not remains to be seen.”
“It must be a part of the original cave, Tom,” answered Dick. “Because it is in the spot covered by the other. But it may not be the part that contained the treasure.”
They crawled around, over the rough rocks and fallen dirt. It was a dangerous proceeding, for they did not know but what some stones might fall at any moment and crush them.
Suddenly Tom and Sam uttered the single exclamation:
“Look!”
Dick looked and then he, too, gave a cry. From under the edge of a rock they saw one end of a heavy wooden chest. A part of the side was split away and through the hole they saw a quantity of gold money!
CHAPTER XXX
HOMEWARD BOUND—CONCLUSION
“The, treasure!”
The boys uttered the cry together and it thrilled those at the top of the opening as nothing else could have done.
“What’s that?” cried Mr. Rover.
“We have found one of the chests,” answered Dick.
“And it’s full of gold pieces!” added Sam and Tom in a breath.
“Then this is the treasure cave after all,” said Captain Barforth. “I must say you are in luck.”
“I’d like to go down and have a look,” put in Songbird eagerly.
All wanted to look, and in the end they came down one after another by way of the rope. The rock on the chest was lifted away and the strong box was dragged forth into the light. Sure enough, it was filled with gold, just as Bahama Bill had said it would be.
“Bahama Bill said there were three chests,” said Mr. Rover, after the excitement of finding so much wealth had somewhat subsided. “Do you see anything of the other two?”
“Not yet—but they must be somewhere near,” answered his oldest son.
Regardless of the danger of falling rocks, they commenced to dig around where the chest had been uncovered. They soon found a second chest, which contained more gold in leather bags, and also a quantity of jewelry and precious stones. Then, when they were almost ready to give up work for the day, they discovered the third chest, smashed flat under two heavy rocks, with its contents of gold scattered in all directions.
“We’ll have to blow up those rocks to get all that gold,” said Sam.
“Don’t do that,” warned Captain Barforth. “If you do you may cave in the whole roof and then the gold may be gone forever.”
It was then decided to bring down the log, and pry the rocks away, and late as it was this was done, and they scooped up the loose golden pieces and put them in their pockets.
“It’s a fine lot o’ money,” was the comment of Hollbrook, the sailor. “Wish some o’ it was mine.”
“You shall be well paid for your work, Hollbrook,” answered Mr. Rover. “Only stick by us and help us to get this to safety.”
“Oh, I’ll stick by you,” was the ready answer. “I’ve got no use for such scoundrels as Carey and Bossermann. I’m only livin’ one life, and I’ll live that honest like, God helpin’ me.”
Night was coming on when they got the treasure to the surface of the ground. They hunted around diligently until they were almost certain they had everything of value. Each was exhausted from his labors, but all were happy. The Rovers were particularly delighted.
“This will make the Lanings and the Stanhopes independent for life,” said Dick, to his brothers.
“And they deserve it,” returned Tom. “Won’t they be glad when they hear the news!”
“Remember one thing,” said Sam. “We haven’t got the treasure from the isle yet, and we don’t know how the Rainbow is faring. If those on the Josephine capture our steam yacht I don’t know what we are going to do.”
“Well, we won’t give up the treasure, no matter what happens,” said Dick, stoutly.
Mr. Rover calculated that the treasure was worth more than Bahama Bill had said. Roughly estimated it would foot up to over a hundred thousand dollars, and this figure did not take in some jewelry of quaint design with precious stones which were new to the treasure hunters.
“For all we know those stones may be worth another ten thousand or more,” said Dick. “I can tell you, it’s a great find and no mistake!”
It was decided to take the treasure down to the shore of Horseshoe Bay and there bury it directly behind the sandy beach.
“And we’ll leave everything here as near as possible as we found it,” said Anderson Rover. “Then, if Sid Merrick comes, he can look for the treasure to his heart’s content,” and he winked at his sons.
“Good!” cried Tom. “I hope he breaks his back working to move the rocks.”
Night had settled over Treasure Isle by the time the shore was reached with the treasure, which was carried in one of the chests and in several bundles and numerous pockets. Men and boys were thoroughly fagged out, and they sat down under the trees to rest before starting to place their find underground again.
“We might as well wait till morning,” said Tom. “I want to have a look at that gold and that jewelry by daylight.”
“We can wait,” said his father. “So long as none of our enemies return to this isle we shall be safe.”
They ate what little provisions were left and washed down the scanty meal with what water was left in the bottles. So far they had been unable to find any springs on the isle.
“I believe the want of fresh water is what keeps the natives away,” was Captain Barforth’s comment, and it is probable that his surmise was correct.
“I see a light!” cried Songbird, when they were on the point of retiring. “It is out on the water.”
He pointed, and soon all made out the lights of a vessel in the distance. Then, as the craft came closer, they saw a rocket shoot up in the air, followed by a Roman candle.
“It’s the Rainbow!” shouted Dick. “That must be some sort of signal for us!”
“But where is the Josephine” asked Tom.
Nobody knew, and just then nobody cared. Captain Barforth ran down to the water’s edge and prepared to launch one of the small boats.
“I am going out to my vessel,” he said. “Hollbrook, come along. If everything is all right, we’ll send two rockets up or fire the cannon twice. Then you had better bring the treasure on board without delay.”
This was agreed to, and in a moment more the captain and his man were afloat and rowing toward the opening of the reef with all their might. Those left behind waited anxiously for what might follow.
“The steam yacht may be in the hands of the enemy,” said Songbird, but he was mistaken, for quarter of an hour later up went two rockets into the air. Then the searchlight struck the water, and those on shore saw a rowboat put off and head for land.
“It’s Bahama Bill and one of the sailors,” cried Tom, a little later. And then he raised his voice as the rowboat
shot into the bay. “This way, Bill, this way!”
Soon the rowboat struck the sand and Bahama Bill leaped out. His face was one broad smile.
“So ye got the treasure after all, did ye!” he cried. “I’m powerful glad on it, yes, sir! Now we’ll fool that Merrick crowd good!”
“But what of them and of their vessel?” asked Anderson Rover anxiously.
“Broke down an’ drifting out on the ocean,” answered the old tar, and then he continued: “You know how they tried to board us—after Carey, Bossermann, that skunk o’ a Wingate, an’ Ulligan went to ’em. Well, fust we kept ’em off with fireworks and with a shotgun. We didn’t have much steam up, but Frank Norton—bless his heart—worked like a beaver, and the boys, Fred and Hans, helped him. I went to steer an’ by good luck kept off the rocks an’ reefs. They came after us pell mell an’ onct or twict we thought sure they had us, an’ all o’ us got pistols and cutlasses an’ prepared to fight. The ladies an’ the gals was most scared to death an’ locked themselves in their staterooms. But we put some ile on the fire an’ putty soon we had steam enough up to bust, an’ then we walked right away from ’em. I reckon the captain o’ the Josephine was mad, for he kept on a followin’ us and onct he got putty close ag’in. But then came some sort o’ an explosion from the other boat, an’ we see a cloud o’ steam rushin’ up from below, and somebody jumped overboard. Then the steam blew away an’ the engine stopped, an’ we went on—an’ left them away out in the ocean, fifteen or twenty miles from here. We calkerlated they’d follow us soon as they could make repairs, so we came on at full speed, to take you on board.”
“Is everybody safe?” asked Dick.
“Yes. That Dutch boy burnt himself ag’in with a rocket, but it ain’t much an’ he don’t care, for he said the rocket hit a chap named Sobber in the stomach and keeled him over.”
“Good for Hans!” cried Sam. “That will give Tad Sobber something to remember him by!”
As quickly as it could be done, the treasure was transferred to the two rowboats, and the entire party set out for the steam yacht. They were careful in going through the opening in the reef, for nobody wanted to see either boat swamped and its precious contents lost. The passage was made in safety, the searchlight aiding them.
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