Part 26 (2/2)
It was evident that they were going to attempt a big operation, for an unusually large quant.i.ty of the white stuff was prepared. The prisoners watched them idly. They could see some but not all of the operations. In this way several hours pa.s.sed.
Gloom possessed the hearts of Tom and his friends. Not only had their expedition been almost a failure so far, but the young inventor was worried lest the gang might discover and wreck his airs.h.i.+p. This would prove a serious loss. Lying there in the semi-darkness the lad imagined all sorts of unpleasant happenings.
At times he dozed off, as did the others. They had become somewhat used to the pain caused by the bonds, for their nerves were numb from the strain and pressure.
Once, as he was lightly sleeping, Tom was awakened by hearing loud voices in the main cave. He looked out, rolling over slightly to get a better view. He saw the man who, once before had run in to give news of an approaching electrical storm.
”Are you fellows all ready?” asked this same man again.
”Yes. Is there another storm coming?”
”Yes, and it's going to be a corker!” was the reply. ”It's one of the worst I've ever seen. It's sweeping right up the valley. It'll be here in an hour.”
”That's good. We need a big flash to make all the material we have prepared into diamonds. It's the biggest batch we ever tried. I hope it succeeds, for we're going to leave--” The rest was in so low a tone that Tom could not catch it.
The storm messenger departed. Folwell and Munson busied themselves about the machinery. Tom dozed off again, dimly wondering what had become of Bill Renshaw, and whether the former ghost knew of their plight. The others were asleep, as the young inventor saw by the dim light of a lantern in the cave. Then, he too, shut his eyes.
Tom was suddenly awakened by feeling some one's hands moving about his clothing. At first he thought it was one of the diamond-making gang, who had sneaked in to rob him. ”Here! What are you up to?” exclaimed Tom.
”Quiet!” cautioned a voice. ”Are you all here?”
”All of us--yes. But who are you?”
”Easy--keep quiet, Tom Swift! I'm Bill Renshaw! I've been searching all over for you, since I got back to your cave and found it empty. Now I'm going to free you. I got in here by a secret entrance. Wait, I'll cut your ropes.” There was a slight sound, and an instant later Tom was freed from his bonds.
CHAPTER XXIV--IN GREAT PERIL
The young inventor could scarcely believe the good luck that had so unexpectedly come to him and his companions. No sooner was Tom able to move freely about than Bill Renshaw performed the same service for Mr.
Jenks and the others, cautioning them to be quiet as he awakened them, and cut the ropes.
”Bless my circulation!” exclaimed Mr. Damon, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. ”How did you ever get here. I'd given ourselves up for lost.”
”Oh, I came in off the mountain, as there's a big storm due,” explained the man. ”There was no need of me playing the haunt in daytime, anyhow.
I went to the cave, found you and your things gone, and I surmised that you might have walked into some trap.”
”We did,” admitted Mr. Jenks, grimly.
”Well, I hunted around until I found you,” went on Bill. ”This mountain is honeycombed with caves, all opening from the large one, I know them better than these fellows do, so I could explore freely, and keep out of their sight. They didn't know that there was a second entrance to this place, but I did, and I made for it, when I couldn't find you in some of the other caves where I looked. And, sure enough, here you were.”
”Well, we can't thank you enough,” said Mr. Parker. ”But you say there is a big storm coming?”
”One of the biggest that's been around these parts in some time,”
replied Bill.
”Then perhaps the mountain will be destroyed,” went on the scientist, as calmly as if he had remarked that it might rain.
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