Part 26 (1/2)
”It certainly is a most unpleasant situation, to say the least,”
observed Mr. Parker.
”And all my fault,” repeated Mr. Jenks.
”Oh, no it isn't,” declared Tom Swift, quickly. ”We were just as ready to follow you into that cave as you were to go. No one could tell that the men would return so soon. It's n.o.body's fault. It's just our bad luck.”
From where he lay, tied hand and foot, the young inventor could look out into the cave where he and the others had been caught. The diamond makers were busily engaged, apparently in getting ready to manufacture another batch of the precious stones. They paid little attention to their captives, save to warn them, when they had first been taken into the little cave, that it was useless to try to escape.
”They needn't have told us that,” observed Tom, as he and the others were talking over their situation in low voices. ”I don't believe any one could loosen these ropes.”
”They certainly are pretty tight,” agreed Mr. Damon. ”I've been tugging and straining at mine for the last half hour, and all I've succeeded in doing is to make the cords cut into my flesh.”
”Better give it up,” advised Mr. Jenks.
”We'll just have to wait.”
”For what?” the scientist wanted to know.
”To see what they'll do with us. They can't keep us here forever.
They'll have to let us go some time.” Following their capture, Folwell and Munson, the latter the stowaway of the airs.h.i.+p, had been in earnest conversation regarding our friends, but what conclusion they had reached the adventurers could only guess.
”And we didn't have time to examine the diamond-making machinery close enough so that we could duplicate it if necessary,” complained Tom, a little later.
”No,” agreed Mr. Jenks. ”There are certain things about it that are not clear to me. Well, I don't believe I'll have another chance to inspect it. They'll take good care of that, though they seem to be getting ready to make more diamonds.”
”Perhaps they're going to manufacture a big batch, and then leave this place,” suggested Mr. Damon. ”They will probably go to some other secret cave, and leave us here.”
”I hope they untie us before they leave, and give us something to eat,”
remarked the young inventor.
For two hours longer the captives lay there, in most uncomfortable positions. Then Folwell and Munson, leaving the group of diamond makers who were grouped about the machinery, approached the captives.
”Well,” remarked Munson, ”we got ahead of you after all; didn't we. You thought you had our secret, but it will be a long while before you ever make diamonds.”
”What are you going to do with us?” asked Tom.
”Never mind. You came where you had no right to, and you must take the consequences.”
”We did have a right to come here!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. ”I am ent.i.tled to know how the diamonds are made. I paid for the information, and you tricked me. If ever it's possible I'll have the whole gang arrested for swindling.”
”You'll never get the chance!” declared Folwell. ”You were given some diamonds for the money you invested, and that makes us square.”
”No, it doesn't!” declared Mr. Jenks. ”I invested the money to learn how to make diamonds, and you know it! You tricked me, and I had a right to try to discover your secret! I nearly have it, too, and I'll get it completely before I'm done with you!”
”No, you won't!” boasted Folwell. ”But we didn't come here to tell you that. We came to give you something to eat. We're not savages and we'll treat you as well as we can in spite of the fact that you are trespa.s.sers. We're going to give you some grub, but I warn you that any attempt to escape will mean that some of you will get hurt.”
He signalled to some of his confederates. These men unbound the captives' arms, and stood over them while they ate some coa.r.s.e food that was brought into the small cave. They were given coffee to drink, and then, when the simple meal was over, they were securely bound again, and left to themselves, while the diamond makers went back to their machinery.