Edward Stratemeyer

“ Rumney had had a quarrel with his fellows, just as Merwell had quarreled with Jasniff.
“Just you wait, Rumney; we’ll fix you for going back on us,” growled Andrew Geswick. But this threat did him little good. In the end he and Pardell had to hand over every penny taken from Giles Borden, and then they were marched off to jail, to await a hearing before the authorities.
In the meantime Dave had run across the deck and followed Jasniff down the companionway. He was afraid that the evil-minded youth might hide the stolen jewels or throw them overboard. ”

“ I don’t believe in the treasure and never will,” returned Roger. “If the treasure was ever here, you can make up your mind that somebody got hold of it long before this.”
“If those Englishmen came here, it is queer that we don’t see some trace of them,” said Captain Sanders.
“Maybe they are like Jasniff and Merwell, keeping out of sight,” ventured Dave.
“That may be true.”
“I think I see some figures moving down near the shore over there,” continued Roger, after another look around. “But they are so far off I am not sure. They may be animals.” ”

“ Only machines and work-benches met their gaze. On a nail hung a lantern.
“We’ll light this,” said Dave, taking the lantern down. “You can carry it, and I’ll keep the gun handy.”
With lantern and gun held out before them, and with their hearts beating wildly, the two youths walked cautiously through the workshop. They had to pass through two rooms before they reached the entrance to the offices. The light cast curious shadows on the walls and the machinery, and more than once the lads fancied they saw something moving. But each alarm proved false.
“Why not call the watchman?” ”

“ To get a regular meal, with the vessel pitching and tossing wildly, was out of the question.
“I don’t know, Dave,” was the grave answer. “I am hoping the wind will die down by sunset. But the storm may last several days.”
“Are we in any danger?” questioned Phil.
“There is always danger during a storm,” answered the master of the Golden Eagle. “But I hope to weather this blow without much trouble.”
“Can we be of any assistance?” went on our hero.
“No, boys. There is nothing you can do but keep yourselves from falling overboard. How is Roger?” ”

“ It took fully a quarter of an hour longer to get out of the rocky cave, and when the boys reached the surface of the earth they were so exhausted they could do little but sit on the ground and pant for breath.
“It’s Cave Island right enough,” was the comment of the senator’s son. “But excuse me from tumbling into any more such openings!”
“I guess the best thing we can do is to go back to the boat,” said Dave. “We can’t discover much in this darkness. We can start out again early in the morning.” ”

“ I don’t want you to make a fool of yourself in front of the whole crowd. See how everybody is staring at you.”
“Humph! Let them stare,” muttered the bully; yet he followed Ben and Dave into the freight room, and Ben stood at the doorway, so that no outsiders might come in. One boy tried to get in, thinking possibly to see a fight, but Ben told him to “fly on, son,” and the lad promptly disappeared.
“Now then, Nat, tell me what you are driving at,” said Dave, as calmly as he could, for he saw that the money-lender’s son was growing more enraged every minute. ”

“ Then, when Dave had started the fire, the game was broiled while the boys had their clothing drying.
“Not much of a meal, but better than nothing,” said Merwell, and our hero agreed with him. They found some water in a hollow of the rocks, left there by the hurricane, and had a drink, after which both lay down to rest.
“Don’t you think we ought to stand guard?” asked the big youth.
“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Dave. “I am dead tired and so are you, and I don’t think anybody will come to harm us,—and there are no large wild beasts on the island. ”

“ Not without difficulty the man was freed of the rope and helped to get out from between the rocks. Then Dave and Roger half carried him down to the cave proper. The crowd had a canteen of water and the man drank, eagerly.
“So your friends robbed you?” said Captain Sanders, curiously.
“Do not call them friends of mine!” returned Giles Borden. “They are not friends—they are vipers, wolves! Oh, if ever I meet them again at home I’ll soon have them in prison, or know the reason why!”
“Hadn’t you better tell us all about it?” went on the master of the Golden Eagle. ”

“ He had heard nothing of the telephone call, being down deep in the covers because of the cold.
“Mr. Wadsworth, get up, get up instantly!” cried Mr. Porter. “You are wanted at the jewelry works. I just got something of a message from your watchman. Some robbers have blown open your safes and they attacked the man, but he got away long enough to telephone. But then they attacked him again, while he was talking to me! We’ll have to get down there at once!”
“Roger, did you hear that?” gasped Dave. “That’s the noise we heard!” ”

“ A general talk followed, lasting until Dunston Porter had to ride away to catch the train for New York.
“You must be right, and Merwell and Jasniff must be guilty,” he said. “And if they are, spare no expense in catching them. I think the quicker you start for Barbados the better. And as soon as you arrive do your best to locate the rascals and have the authorities arrest them. And above all things, keep your eyes open for the jewels, for we need them much more than we need to catch Merwell and Jasniff. To catch the rascals and miss the gems will do us no good.” ”

“ A man——”
“Was it a young man, Shadow?” asked Dave, calmly.
“Maybe it was a very old man,” suggested Phil.
“Was he clean-shaven or did he have a beard?” queried Roger. 27
“Never mind if he was young or old, or clean-shaven or not,” cried the story-teller. “This man——”
“Was he an American or a foreigner?” demanded Gus Plum. “That is something we have simply got to know.”
“And if he was knock-kneed,” put in Sam. “I hate love stories about knock-kneed men. They aren’t a bit romantic.” ”

“ We’ll form a guard around Gus and Chip, so they can’t get away with it on the sly.”
“Not so much as a doughnut must be eaten until we reach the island and start a campfire,” said Dave. “Those are orders from headquarters,” he added, with a grand flourish.
“Orders accepted, admiral!” cried Gus, and made a bow so profound that his skates went from under him, sending him to his knees. This caused a wild laugh, and the powerfully-built youth got up in a hurry, looking rather sheepish.
“I’m ready now,” said Ben, as he left the bench and settled his skating cap on his head. ”

“ Great was the surprise of the Wadsworths and of Laura when the boys and Dunston Porter announced 134 that they were going to start for Florida the next morning.
“Why, Dave?” asked Jessie. “Why are you going in such a hurry?”
“Oh, I hardly care to tell, Jessie,” he answered. “It may prove only a wild goose chase.”
“It is about the missing jewels?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are after Merwell and Jasniff.”
“Yes, but please don’t tell any outsiders.”
“Oh, Dave, don’t get into any trouble!” cried the girl, as she clung to him. “They are such bad fellows! ”

“ Those on the schooner continued to hoist the sails, and presently the Aurora turned away, leaving Cave Island behind.
As the schooner moved off Dave’s heart sank 273 within him. On board of the craft was Jasniff, and the rascal had the larger portion of the Carwith jewels in his possession.
“It’s a shame!” burst out Phil. “Oh, why didn’t we get hold of Jasniff when you collared Link!”
“Where is your own ship?” asked Merwell. “Why don’t you find her and follow that crowd?” He felt as sour as ever over the thought that he had been captured while his companion in crime had escaped. ”

“ Here and there were numerous cabins, with hordes of colored children playing about.
“This is the Southland, true enough,” observed Dave. “Just see how happy those pickaninnies seem to be!”
“Yes, one would almost envy their care-free dispositions,” answered Dunston Porter. “Their manner shows that it doesn’t take money to make one happy.”
They had passed through Richmond and were now on their way to Emporia. It was growing steadily warmer, and by noon all were glad enough to leave the car and go out on the observation platform at the end of the train. ”

“ It was impossible to transfer those ashore to the Golden Eagle during the darkness, because of the danger in the breakers, so they had to wait until daylight before departing.
Among those to go were, of course, the sailors who had come ashore from the wreck of the Emma Brower. Captain Sanders told them they could remain on the island if they wished, but they set up an immediate protest.
“It’s not a fit place for any man,” said one of the tars. “There is very little game and not much fruit, and one is continually in danger of falling into a hole or a cave. ”

“ I beg of you, don’t kill those mice!” came suddenly from a tall, thin young man who had been sleeping in a berth at the end of the car. Dave had noticed him during the day and had put him down as a preacher or actor.
“Why not?” asked our hero.
“They are mine, that’s why,” said the man. “I would not have them killed for a thousand dollars!”
“Say, wot yo’-all talkin’ about?” demanded the porter. “Dem mice yours?”
“Yes! yes! Oh, please do not kill them!” pleaded the tall, thin man. “They won’t hurt anybody, really they won’t.”
“Say, are them white mice educated?” demanded the fat man. ”

“ Half an hour later Dunston Porter came driving up in a cab. He was plainly excited.
“I’ve got to go to New York at once,” he said. “I must look after some valuable investments in Wall Street. Do you think you boys can get along alone?”
“I think we can, Uncle Dunston,” answered 169 Dave. “You know we are used to taking care of ourselves,” and he smiled faintly.
“Then go ahead and do as you think best.”
“We want Captain Sanders to start for Barbados as soon as he can,” went on our hero, and told of the telegrams received. ”

“ The first day passed rapidly and the Golden Eagle made good headway. The boys spent most of the time on deck, amusing themselves as best they could. They talked to Captain Sanders and his mate, and also visited with Billy Dill. Occasionally they conversed with the four Englishmen, but they noticed that the Britishers were inclined to keep to themselves.
“I guess it is just as well, too,” said Dave to his chums. “They are not our sort at all.” ”

“ There was just sufficient snow on the ground to make rabbit and squirrel tracking good, and the boys were told that they might remain away all day. Six of them had guns and two had revolvers, and they carried in addition a good-sized hamper of provisions for lunch.
“Now, boys, be careful and don’t shoot yourselves or anybody else,” said Doctor Clay, with a smile, when Dave, Roger, and Phil left the school building. “Don’t fire at anything until you are certain of what it is. Every hunting season somebody 17 is killed through the sheer carelessness of somebody else.” ”

“ After that but little was said, both lads saving their breath for the task before them. Dave went up first, testing each vine with care as he advanced. Twice he slipped back, and once Merwell came to his aid and held him. It was a little thing to do, but it pleased our hero, and his face showed it.
At last they were out of the hollow and each threw himself on the ground to rest. Then Dave walked to a near-by hill and gazed in every direction. Not a human being was in sight anywhere. ”

“ As they reached the lower end of the island Dave held up his hand as a warning.
“I think I saw some partridges ahead,” he said, in a low voice. “If they are there we don’t want to disturb them. Put down the hamper and take off your skates, and we’ll try to bag them.”
His chums were not slow in complying with his commands, and soon the crowd was making its way toward the center of the island, where grew a dense clump of cedars. They had to work their way through the brushwood. ”

“ But the detective feels he can soon round him up again.”
Dave looked thoughtfully out of the window and tapped the table with his fingers.
“You still think Merwell and Jasniff guilty?” remarked his uncle, with a smile.
“Yes, Uncle Dunston. After what Hooker Montgomery said, I’ll think them guilty until somebody proves otherwise.”
“Then I tell you what I’ll do, boys,” said Dunston Porter. “I’ll take a trip down to Florida with you and look into this matter. I’d rather be on the move than sitting still waiting for something to turn up.”
“Will you go?” cried Dave, eagerly. ”

“ The snow was coming down lightly when Dave and Ben alighted, baggage and bundles in hand, for they had not risked checking anything in such a crowd. Ben’s father was on hand to greet him, and close at hand stood the Wadsworth family sleigh, with Laura and Jessie on the rear seat. The driver came to take the suit-case and Dave’s bundle, grinning a welcome as he did so.
“There’s Dave!” cried Jessie, as soon as he appeared. “Isn’t he growing tall!” ”

“ They did not wait for breakfast but hurried at once in the direction of the Hotel Castor, once a leading hostelry of the city, but which had seen its best day.
“Quite a town,” remarked the senator’s son, as they passed along.
“Jacksonville is now the main city of Florida,” replied Dunston Porter. “It is a great shipping center, and is also well-known as a winter resort.”
“How balmy the weather is!” was Phil’s comment. “Just like spring at home!”
Dave’s uncle had been in Jacksonville several 153 times and knew the way well. ”

“ 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 254 the fire had been extinguished. “When a fellow makes a fool of himself he’s got to take the consequences.” ”

“ Dave’s success put all the students on the alert, and they spread out on either side of the stream, eager to sight more game.
Less than two minutes later came the crack of Gus Plum’s shotgun, followed almost immediately by a shot from Buster Beggs’ pistol. Then a gray rabbit went scampering across the river in front of the boys and several fired simultaneously.
“I got him! I got him!” shouted Gus, and ran to the shore, to bring out a medium-sized rabbit.
“And we’ve got another!” cried Sam. “But I don’t know whether Shadow, Ben, or I killed him.” ”