It took the best part of the afternoon and evening to get the whole
party together again, and send word to the mate of the _Golden Eagle_
to bring the vessel around to that side of Cave Island. And while this
was being done the hurts Captain Sanders and Smiley had received were
cared for as well as the means at hand permitted.
The captain and the wounded sailor had a long story to tell, of how
they had followed the three rascally Englishmen and Nick Jasniff, and
how the latter had made a compact with the others, so that they would
take him with them when they left the island.
"The Englishmen were a bit afraid of the captain of the _Aurora_,"
said Captain Sanders, "and we overheard them discuss the situation.
They knew the captain would want to know what had become of the fourth
man he had left here. At last they resolved to try a trick, but they
weren't sure it would work. But evidently it did, for the schooner has
sailed."
"What was that trick?" asked Dave.
"It seems that when Mr. Borden was on the _Aurora_ he had a headache
from the sun and wore smoked glasses. Is that right, sir?"
"It is," answered Giles Borden. "The glare on the waves was beastly,
and I wore the smoked glasses all day long."
"Well, the rascals planned to have Jasniff impersonate Mr. Borden. One
of them, Geswick, exchanged coats and caps with him, and lent him a
pair of smoked glasses, and he was to tie up his cheeks and pretend to
be suffering from toothache, and keep to his stateroom as much as
possible during the trip."
"Oh, what a thing to do--impersonate me!" roared Giles Borden, in a
rage. "Just wait till I confront him!"
"Yes, you'll have to wait," put in Phil, dryly.
"Did you find out where they were going to sail to?" asked Dave,
eagerly.
"To San Juan, on the island of Porto Rico. But they may make some
stops on the way."
"San Juan," mused Roger. "That's a good many miles from here. Perhaps
the _Golden Eagle_ can catch the _Aurora_ before she gets there."
"If they went to San Juan direct I'd advise waiting till they got in
that harbor before I'd do anything," said Captain Sanders.
"Why?" asked the boys.
"Because it is one thing to stop them on the high seas and another to
stop them in United States waters. Remember, Porto Rico is now a part
of Uncle Sam's domain."
"Yes, I'd rather go at them there than on the high seas," answered
Dave. "But they mustn't get away again, no matter where we have to
tackle them," he added, determinedly.
It was impossible to transfer those ashore to the _Golden Eagle_
during the darkness, because of the danger in the breakers, so they
had to wait until daylight before departing.
Among those to go were, of course, the sailors who had come ashore
from the wreck of the _Emma Brower_. Captain Sanders told them they
could remain on the island if they wished, but they set up an
immediate protest.
"It's not a fit place for any man," said one of the tars. "There is
very little game and not much fruit, and one is continually in danger
of falling into a hole or a cave. I'll go to Porto Rico gladly, and so
will my mates, and we'll work our passage, if you're willing."
"All right," said Captain Sanders. "But you'll not have much to do, as
we have about all the hands we need."
When aboard the ship, the captain and the boys listened to the story
the mate had to tell. Then they learned that the storm had blown the
_Golden Eagle_ many miles from Cave Island, and in trying to avoid
some of the keys of another island, the vessel had lost the top of one
of the masts and the rudder had been damaged. This had necessitated
much delay, which accounted for the non-appearance of the vessel when
expected.
While making repairs, the vessel had been passed by a tramp steamer
bound for Trinidad. The captain of the steamer had asked if he could
be of assistance, and after being told no, had given the information
that he had picked up three rowboat loads of passengers and crew from
the ill-fated _Emma Brower_. It may be mentioned here that another
boat load from the same vessel managed to reach another island in that
vicinity, and in the end it was learned that the going down of the
bark was unattended with the loss of a single life.
With so many on board, the accommodations on the _Golden Eagle_ were
somewhat crowded. The sailors went with Billy Dill into the
forecastle, while Giles Borden was asked to share Captain Sanders'
stateroom. What to do with Link Merwell became a question. In one
sense he was a prisoner, yet Dave hated to treat him as such.
"There is the extra pantry," said Captain Sanders. "We can clean that
out and put in a cot, and he can use that," and so it was arranged,
much to the relief of all of the boys. The pantry had a grating,
opening on the main passageway, so it made a fairly comfortable
stateroom, although rather hot.
"Well, I suppose I've got to take my medicine, when we get back,"
grumbled Link Merwell, when given his quarters.
"What else could you expect?" returned Dave. "If this was my affair
alone, Link, I might let you go, now you have given up the jewels. But
what is to be done is for Mr. Wadsworth and the authorities to say."
Merwell had confessed that he and Jasniff had taken the skates and
other things at Squirrel Island, and told where they had been left, in
a barn along the river, and how they might be recovered. He had also
admitted impersonating Dave on several occasions and ordering goods in
our hero's name, and doing other mean things of which he had been
suspected, and said he was heartily sorry for his actions.
Soon the _Golden Eagle_ was ready for the departure from Cave Island.
As the sails were hoisted the boys gathered on deck to take a last
look at the remarkable spot.
"It is really and truly Cave Island," declared Dave. "I don't believe
any other place in the world is so full of caves and holes!"
"I am glad the volcanoes didn't get busy while we were there,"
remarked the shipowner's son.
"So am I," added Roger. "The caves and holes were bad enough, without
adding other perils."
"Dave, do you think we'll catch that schooner?" went on Phil, after a
pause, during which the boys watched the ship drawing away from the
island.
"I sincerely hope so," was the serious reply. "If we don't, and
Jasniff gets away, this mission down here will have proved almost a
failure."
"Then you think Jasniff has the most of the jewels?"
"Yes. If you'll remember, the jewels that were taken were valued at
about seventy-five thousand dollars. Well, I have looked at the jewels
I got from Link, and so has Mr. Borden, who knows something about
gems, and we have come to the conclusion that those Link turned over
to me are not worth over fifteen thousand dollars. That means that
Jasniff has about sixty thousand dollars' worth."
"Isn't that like Jasniff!" cried the senator's son. "Always wanted the
big end of everything! It's a wonder he and Link didn't quarrel
before."
"They did quarrel, and Link wanted to leave him several times, but
didn't dare, for Jasniff threatened to expose him. In one way, I am
sorry for Link,--but, of course, he had no right to commit such a
deed."
After Cave Island was left in the distance, Captain Sanders had a long
conference with Giles Borden concerning the Englishmen who had robbed
him. Later a general talk took place between the pair and the boys.
"I am afraid we'll have to trust to luck to catch the _Aurora_ or
locate her," said the captain, finally. "She may go to San Juan and
she may go elsewhere."
"If we pass any other vessels, can't we ask if they saw the schooner?"
ventured Dave.
"Certainly."
The day went by and also the next. Link Merwell kept to himself, only
speaking when addressed. He felt his position keenly, and would no
doubt have given a great deal if he could have cleared himself. He was
learning that the way of the transgressor is hard.
On the third day, early in the morning, they passed a big barkentine
bound for South American ports. Greetings were exchanged, and Captain
Sanders asked concerning the _Aurora_.
"Yes, we met her," was the reply. "Yesterday, about two bells in the
afternoon watch."
"Did she say where she was bound?"
"Bound for San Juan, Porto Rico."
"Direct?"
"Yes. She was going to stop elsewhere, but the captain allowed he'd
make straight for San Juan," added the captain of the barkentine,
through the megaphone he was using. Then, after a few words more, the
two vessels separated.
"It's San Juan sure!" cried Dave. "From what Mr. Borden and Billy Dill
say of Captain Hunker he would not tell a falsehood. I guess the best
thing we can do is to sail for that port."
"I think so myself," returned Captain Sanders.
The chase was now a definite one, and Dave felt much relieved. He
wondered if they would be able to overtake the _Aurora_ before Porto
Rico was reached.
"We can do that with ease," answered Captain Sanders when questioned.
"But even so, she may not stick to just the course we take, and we may
pass her in the night. So don't worry if we don't see or hear anything
before San Juan is reached."
"I'll try not to worry," answered our hero. Yet he could not help it,
for so much depended on the successful outcome of his mission. He knew
that those at home must be in deep distress, and he could picture the
anxiety of Mr. Wadsworth and his wife and Jessie, and also the anxiety
of his own folks.
"Oh, we've got to catch Jasniff and get back those jewels!" he told
himself. "We've simply got to do it! I won't give up, if I have to
follow him around the world!"
It had been warm, but now the weather changed and a strong breeze made
living far more comfortable. The breeze was favorable to sailing, and
the _Golden Eagle_ plowed the deep at a good rate of speed. Many of
the islands of the Lesser Antilles were passed, and some truly
dangerous reefs, and then the course was straight for the harbor of
San Juan, on the northeastern coast of Porto Rico.
They had seen nothing so far of the _Aurora_, but on the afternoon of
the last day out they were passed by a freight steamer from the south
and received word that the schooner was not far away and making for
San Juan.
"I guess we had better go right in and get the authorities to take
hold," said Captain Sanders. "This is no matter for us to handle, now
we are in United States waters once more."
Dave agreed; and as soon as possible they entered the harbor and went
ashore. It was an easy matter to notify the harbor police, and inside
of two hours half a dozen officers of the law were detailed to make
the necessary arrests. Dave and Giles Borden and Captain Sanders went
with them, leaving Phil, Roger, and the others aboard the _Golden
Eagle_.
The patrol boat of the harbor police had to remain on the watch all
night and half the next morning before the _Aurora_ was sighted.
"There she is!" cried Dave, at last, and Giles Borden echoed the
words. Then the patrol boat lost no time in steaming alongside of the
schooner.
"Hello, what's wanted?" demanded Captain Hunker, as he saw the
officers of the law.
"We'll come aboard, captain," said the officer in charge.
"What's the matter?"
"We are after four of your passengers."
At that moment somebody appeared near the rail, to learn what the
shouting meant. It was Nick Jasniff. He gazed at the officers of the
law and then at Dave. As he recognized our hero his face fell and he
looked totally dumfounded.