Part 44 (2/2)
The path was through the forest and then along a rocky ridge. Here walking was very uncertain, and Roger warned the others to be careful.
”An' if ye ain't careful ye'll go into a hole to Kingdom Come!” put in Billy Dill.
When the ridge was left behind they came to another patch of timber, and then walked through a small cave with a large opening at either end. In the center of this cave was a hole, at the bottom of which flowed an underground river.
”If ever an island was rightly named, this is the one,” observed Phil.
”It is caves from one end to the other.”
”Listen! I thought I heard voices!” exclaimed Dave, suddenly, and held up his hand for silence.
All listened closely and heard a faint murmur, coming from a distance.
”Sounds to me as if it was underground,” whispered Phil.
”Yes, but from what direction?” asked Roger.
”I think it comes from over yonder,” answered Dave. ”Let us go there and make sure.”
They walked on, soon coming to a spot where a place between the rocks was covered with a matting of long vines, much intertwined.
”Keep quiet!” suddenly exclaimed our hero. ”I know where they are-behind those vines. There must be a cave there, and the vines make a curtain for the entrance.”
”Who is it?” asked Merwell.
”I don't know yet. Wait, all of you remain here, behind the rocks, while I investigate.”
As silently as possible, Dave crawled forward, keeping close to the rocks on one side of the cave's entrance. Soon he was up to the curtain of vines, and cautiously he thrust his hand forward, making a small opening.
At first our hero could see little, but as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom, he made out two forms lying on couches of vines, smoking. The forms were those of the two Englishmen, Pardell and Rumney.
”Well, Geswick ought to be coming back,” Dave heard Rumney say. ”He said he wouldn't waste any time.”
”Maybe he had some trouble with that young fellow,” returned Pardell.
”Say, do you know he's a queer stick? Where did he get those diamonds he offered for his pa.s.sage?”
”I don't know, but I rather think he stole them.”
”Then perhaps he has more of the jewels.”
”Just what I was thinking-and Geswick thought the same.”
”If he has many of them--” The man paused suggestively.
”We might relieve him, eh?” returned the other.
”Why not? We cleaned out Borden. Two jobs of that sort are no worse than one.”
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