AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL
At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speaker
for the time being.
Was it really true that Dora’s mother had married the disreputable Josiah
Crabtree after all? It made his heart sick to think of such a state of
affairs.
“You are telling me the truth?” he asked at last.
“Certainly.”
“I don’t believe you, Tad Sobber.”
“Very well—you can ask Mr. Crabtree—and Mrs. Stanhope, when you see her.”
“If she married Crabtree she was forced to do it.”
“No, she married him willingly.”
“I’ll never believe it. Where is she now?”
“I am not here to answer questions, Dick Rover. You and your brothers
came here I suppose to get the best of us. Well, you are nicely caught.”
“What are you going to do with me?”
“You’ll find that out before you are many hours older,” answered Sobber,
and turned away.
A quarter of an hour went by and the man who had met Koswell and the
others outside of the cavern came back.
“Well, Jim, what about the other Rovers?” questioned Tad Sobber.
“Safe enough,” answered Jim Pally, with a grin.
“Where?”
“Down in the pool.”
“They slipped in?”
“They sure did.”
“I hope they won’t drown,” went on Sobber, uneasily.
“Oh, they are safe enough. I heard ’em swimming around until they found
the rocks to stand on.”
“Good enough. Now, what do you think we had better do with this one?”
“Why don’t you make him join his brothers?” answered Jim Pally. And then
he motioned Sobber to one side, out of Dick’s hearing. A conversation in
a low tone followed. Pally was telling Sobber they had better be on
guard, since the Rovers might not be alone. Then he told of the meeting
with Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham; and the two went off to consult
with Josiah Crabtree.
Left to himself, Dick tried his best to free himself of the bonds that
held him. But the work of making him a prisoner had been done well, and
all he did was to cut his wrists and his ankles.
When Sobber and Pally came back they were accompanied by Josiah Crabtree.
The former teacher and jailbird wore the same dictatorial look as of
yore.
“Ha! so we meet again, Rover!” cried Josiah Crabtree, pursing up his
lips.
“Mr. Crabtree, is it true that you have married Mrs. Stanhope?” asked
Dick, bluntly.
“Well—er—we are as good as married, yes,” he stammered, taken somewhat
off his guard by the suddenness of the question.
“As good as married? What do you mean?”
“I mean she has promised to be my—er—my bride as soon as we can obtain
a—er—a minister to perform the ceremony.”
“You are forcing her into this marriage!”
“Not at all, young man, not at all! She is going to marry me of her own
free will.”
“I do not believe it.”
“Ha! don’t dare to talk to me in this fashion, Rover!” stormed Josiah
Crabtree, glaring at the helpless youth before him.
“Will you let me speak to Mrs. Stanhope?”
“And poison her mind against me? Indeed not!”
“Where is she?”
“She is in safe hands.”
“In your hands?”
“No, in the hands of a very estimable lady, who is doing all that is
possible to make her comfortable.”
“Is she well?”
“She is—er—a little bit fatigued by her journey, that is all. She will be
quite herself after she has rested for a few days.”
“Mr. Crabtree, you had no right to abduct her.”
“Who says I abducted her? She accompanied me willingly, Rover.”
“I do not believe that, and never will believe it. You mesmerized or
hypnotized her, or something of the sort. I know your tricks of old.”
“Ha! don’t dare to talk to me in that fashion!” stormed Josiah Crabtree.
“Don’t you dare to do it!” And coming closer he shook his fist in Dick’s
face.
“You’d not do that if I were free, Josiah Crabtree!” cried the youth,
defiantly.
“Say, we can’t afford to waste time in talk!” interrupted Tad Sobber. “I
reckon the best thing we can do with this fellow is to make him join his
brothers.”
“And then—” went on Crabtree, and finished in a whisper which Dick did
not catch.
A few minutes later Dick was led back into the cavern towards the pool
into which his brothers had fallen. Sobber carried a torch, that threw a
flickering light throughout the dismal underground opening.
“Help! help!” came faintly from the bottom of the pool, and looking down
those on the rocks high above saw Sam and Tom standing there, in water up
to their knees.
“Hello!” cried Dick. “Are you all right?”
“We would be, if we could get out,” answered Tom.
“Hello! It’s the Sobber crowd, with Dick!” murmured Sam.
“I don’t think they are going to aid us,” returned Tom.
A few words passed between Sobber, Crabtree, and Pally, and then while
two of the evildoers held Dick the third cut his bonds.
“Now, then, you can join your brothers!” cried Sobber, and gave Dick a
shove that sent him headlong. Down he came with a tremendous splash, and
then the waters of the pool closed over him.
“You cowards!” shouted Tom, in a rage. “I shouldn’t treat a dog that
way!”
“You shut your mouth!” yelled back Tad Sobber. “It serves you right—for
following us.”
“Some day you’ll be in jail, Tad Sobber!” shouted Sam. “It’s where you
belong.”
All waited for Dick to come up, but second after second passed and the
eldest Rover boy failed to appear.
“Something is wrong!” gasped Tom, in alarm. “Maybe his head struck on the
bottom,” cried Sam. “If he is dead, you’ll pay the penalty!” he cried, to
those on the shore of the rocky pool.
All were worried, for those above had not expected anything of this sort
to happen. They looked down, but could see nothing of Dick.
“I’m going to hunt for him!” cried Tom, and leaving the rocks upon which
he was standing, he swam with all haste in the direction of the spot
where his big brother had gone down. Seeing this, Sam followed his
example.
“Perhaps we had better be getting out of here!” muttered Jim Pally,
turning pale.
“No! no! let us see if they bring Dick Rover up!” answered Tad Sobber,
hoarsely.
The firebrand was swung into a larger blaze and the glare cast on the
waters. As the rays lit up the weird scene, Tom set up a sudden shout.
“There he is!”
“Where?” demanded Sam.
“Over yonder! I just saw him bob up. Quick, Sam, before he goes to the
bottom!”
The brothers swam to the spot indicated by Tom with all possible speed,
and Tom made a dive under the surface. When he came up again he had hold
of Dick’s left foot.
“I’ve go—got him!” he gasped. “Hel—help me!”
For reply Sam ranged up by his brother’s side, and between them they
raised Dick up and swam with him to the spot where the water was shallow.
Then they stood there, in water up to their knees, supporting Dick as
best they could. The oldest Rover boy was all but unconscious.
“Going to help us?” yelled Tom, to their enemies.
“What’s the matter with him?” asked Tad Sobber.
“Oh, I fancy he was only shamming!” came from Josiah Crabtree. “Come on
away.”
“Don’t you dare to leave us here!” cried Sam.
“Help us out,” came from Tom. “It is your duty to do it.”
“Not much!” answered Tad Sobber, with a sneer. “You can help yourself—if
you can!” And with these words he walked away, in company with Crabtree
and Pally, leaving the Rovers to their fate in the water and the
darkness.