Part 35 (1/2)
”What became of the other boats?”
”Ain't seen nuthin' of 'em yet.”
”Is that your boat was split in two, between the rocks in that direction?” and Dave pointed to where such a craft had been found by him and Roger.
”That's her, messmate. Putty badly used up, eh?”
”And you are quite sure those two pa.s.sengers had no baggage?” went on our hero, after a pause.
”Nary a thing, messmate, excepting wot they wore. It wasn't no time to think o' baggage, it was a time to think o' what to do to save your life!”
CHAPTER XXII-THE HURRICANE
”What direction did those fellows who ran away take?” asked Dave.
”That's the way they went,” answered one of the sailors, pointing to some heavy undergrowth behind the camping-out spot.
”Where does that lead to, do you know?” asked the senator's son.
”Leads to a spring o' fresh water an' half a dozen big caves,” was the reply.
”Caves?” queried Dave. ”Then perhaps the fellows, who ran away, took to one of the caves.”
”Like as not, messmate. Them two chaps have been explorin' them caves ever since we came ash.o.r.e.”
”Let us walk back and have a look,” suggested our hero. ”We may be able to give Phil and Captain Sanders some a.s.sistance.”
Without further delay, the two boys left the camp of the castaways and hurried along a small trail through the bushes. They soon came to a rocky depression in the midst of which was a tiny spring.
”That water looks good,” exclaimed Dave. ”Let us get a drink.”
”Perhaps it is poisonous, Dave.”
”If it was, I think those sailors would have warned us.”
They found the water fairly cold and of a good flavor, and each drank his fill. Then Dave flashed the electric light around. Ahead they made out a series of rocks, with here and there a gloomy opening, leading to unknown depths.
”This is Cave Island and no mistake,” was our hero's comment. ”The place seems to be fairly honeycombed.”
”Be careful that you don't go into a hole and drop out of sight,”
warned his chum.
They walked to the entrance of one of the caves and peered in. All was dark and silent. Then they went to the next cave. Here they caught a glimmer of light.
”Somebody is moving in here!” exclaimed Dave. ”A man with a torch!”
They waited, and presently saw that two persons were approaching slowly, having to pick their way over the uneven rocks.