THE HUNT FOR THE TREASURE
With the _Rainbow_ steaming away from Horseshoe Bay, the Rovers and
those with them on shore felt that a crisis had been reached. If it
was true that Carey, Bossermann and Wingate contemplated joining Sid
Merrick there was no telling what the enemy might not accomplish next.
"I have never liked Carey," observed Captain Barforth. "But I did not
imagine he would take matters in his own hands in this fashion. I did
not think he had the backbone."
"It's the thought of the treasure has done it," answered Anderson
Rover. "Many a man's head is turned because of gold."
Those on the shore watched the steam yacht round the eastern point of
the isle. Each heart sank as the vessel disappeared from view.
"Well, we can do nothing at present, but hope for the best," observed
the captain. "We cannot think of chasing them in the rowboats."
"We might tramp across the isle and see where they go to," suggested
Tom. "The _Josephine_ must be over there somewhere."
"Yes, we can do that," answered Mr. Rover. "But it will be a rough
journey."
"I have a better idea," came from Dick. "Father has his spyglass with
him. Why not ascend that hill back of where the treasure cave is and
then get up in the highest tree there? A fellow ought to be able to
see all around from that height."
"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 hole 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!