Part 43 (1/2)
”Coming!” came from a distance, and in a few minutes Merwell put in an appearance, bringing with him some berries and fruits.
”One of those sailors who came ash.o.r.e with me told me about these,” he said. ”The berries we can eat raw and they are very good. The fruit we can slice up and toast. They make a pretty decent meal,” and so it proved, and both youths ate their fill. Then Dave announced his intention of climbing the tree again and having another look around.
”That s.h.i.+p is at the south end of the island,” he announced. ”It is not the _Golden Eagle_, but a much smaller craft. Most likely it is the vessel the Englishmen engaged. If it is, those three rascals will have a chance to get away before Giles Borden can catch them and make them give up the money they took from him.”
”Oh, Dave, do you think--” And then Merwell stopped short.
”What were you going to say, Link?”
”I was thinking if it would be possible for Nick to go away with those Englishmen.”
”Why, yes, if he chanced to meet them, and they were willing to have him. But would he go and leave you behind?”
”He might, especially if he found out I was captured, or that I had let you have what jewels I was carrying.”
”If he went with those Englishmen he would be foolish to let them know about the jewels, for they would rob him, just as they robbed Giles Borden,” continued our hero, and then he realized that here was a new peril to face. If the Englishmen got their hands on the jewels it might be next to impossible to recover the gems, especially if the rascals managed to get away from Cave Island.
Presently our hero saw a column of smoke arising in another portion of the island. He watched it for several minutes and then gave a cry of satisfaction.
”I know where they are!”
”You mean your crowd?” queried Merwell.
”Yes. Phil is signaling to me, by means of a column of smoke such as some Indians out west use. We learned the trick when we were at Star Ranch. Come on, we'll soon be with them. It isn't very far.”
Dave had come down from his high perch in a hurry, and in a very short time was ready to leave the spot. Merwell gave a deep sigh, for he did not relish confronting his former schoolmates.
”It's tough luck, but I suppose I've got to stand it,” he murmured, as he followed Dave, after the fire had been extinguished. ”When a fellow makes a fool of himself he's got to take the consequences.” And this remark was so true that Dave did not dispute it.
On they went through the forest and then over a rocky hill. Three times they came close to falling into the treacherous holes in which the island abounded, and the last time poor Merwell got a fall that almost sprained his ankle.
”We'll rest a bit and you can bathe the ankle,” said Dave, kindly, and got some water from a nearby pool.
”I don't wonder n.o.body is living on this island,” grumbled the injured one. ”I suppose the natives around here are too afraid of falling into some of those holes.”
”They are afraid of the caves and also afraid of volcanoes,” answered Dave. ”The mate of the _Golden Eagle_ told me that. Sometimes the volcanoes break out here without warning and cover the rocks with hot ashes.”
”Is that so? Well, I hope no volcano breaks out while I am here.”
At last the boys reached a small rise of ground and at a distance saw the column of smoke, plainly. Dave put on extra speed and soon saw Phil, Giles Borden, and several sailors-the survivors from the ill-fated _Emma Brower_.
”Phil!”
”Dave! At last!” cried the s.h.i.+powner's son, joyfully. ”Are you hurt?”
”Not a bit of it. How are you?”
”All right, although I had several tumbles while hunting for you. You disappeared in the strangest fas.h.i.+on.”
”I fell into a cave,-went down with Link Merwell.”