Edward Stratemeyer

“ Robert Menden was gone, and there was no telling what had become of him.
"I'll go down and find out," said Dick, determinedly.
"But the danger, lad—" began old Jacob.
"I'll be very careful, Jacob. I have no wish to lose my life. But we must do something, you know."
The old sailor shook his head doubtfully. "If you lose your life, lad, I'll never be able to face your folks—not me!"
Nevertheless, he allowed Dick to tie the end of the jagged rope around him, and then the boy was lowered over the brink of the fissure, also with a lighted torch in his hand. ”

“ I never did like melodramatics," cried Bob. "The world is wide enough for us. You go your way, and let us go ours."
"Answer me one question. Are you travelling with Robert Menden?"
"We are resting at present."
"You know what I mean."
"We have nothing more to say," said Dick. "Now leave us alone."
Joseph Farvel's face grew blacker than ever. "Be it so," he muttered. "But remember what I said about crossing my path." And then he turned away, taking his two negro companions with him. In a few minutes a turn in the trail took him out of the sight of the three boys. ”

“ You're a first-class sneak."
"Bumbum very honest, señor—nefer take not'ing, nefer!" And the Carib nodded earnestly.
"You took our ten dollars fast enough," said Dick. He turned to the others. "Hadn't he better give that money up?"
"Yes, make him give it ye back," said old Jacob. "He don't deserve a cent." And the others agreed with him.
When the Carib was made to understand what was wanted, his face grew as dark as the night outside. "You rob poor man—dat no fair," he muttered.
"You are a rascal and ought to be in jail," answered Robert Menden. ”

“ But he was grit, and kept on descending until the ledge upon which Menden had stood was gained.
All was uncertain about him. The jagged rocks loomed up all around him, and to one side was the vast opening the Englishman had mentioned. Dick waved his torch over it and concluded it was a bottomless pit.
Several tons of rocks had fallen, but most of the mass had gone over the edge of the ledge. There was a heap of small stones close at hand, and looking down among these the youth saw Robert Menden's body, partly covered up.
"Can he be dead?" he asked himself. "Oh, I pray God he is alive!" ”

“ When the Dashaway arrived at home the boys found the water-front of the town decorated in their honor. A grand feast was had at the home of Dick Wilbur, and here their various adventures had to be told again and again, for the benefit of the club members' parents, and their numerous friends. It was a jolly time and one never to be forgotten; and here we will leave them, satisfied that, no matter what adventures they may have in the future, they will never have any more thrilling than those encountered while treasure-hunting in Porto Rico. ”

“ Not fifty yards from the Dashaway all beheld an upturned rowboat, just rising to the top of one of the long ocean swells. To one end of the tiny craft a man was clinging desperately. It was possible that he was crying for help, but if so, the uproar of the storm drowned out his voice completely.
"Dat fellow will be lost sure!" burst out Danny Guirk. "Poor man, he must feel awful!"
"We must try to save him," came from Dick.
"That's true," said Don. "But how?"
17"I don't see what we can do, with such a sea running," added Leander. "If we get much closer we'll run him down." ”

“ But that member had caught between a bit of the dashboard and a brace, and was as fast as if in a bear trap.
The little girl began to scream, but Bob hardly heard her. Along jounced the turnout, then came a slight pause, and over the bank went the team, landing in the river with a loud splash. The carriage followed, and on the instant the youth found himself under the water.
It was truly a situation of extreme peril, and it is a wonder that poor Bob did not lose utter control of himself. But even in that dire hour he felt that if he would save himself he must have his wits about him. ”

“ To many living in Porto Rico time seems to be of little value. Almost all of the business is done between ten and twelve o'clock in the morning, and after that the shopkeeper locks up his place and takes a nap until four or five o'clock, opening up again in the evening, which is really the busiest part of the whole twenty-four hours.
The storm had cleared off and now the atmosphere was sultry and oppressive, the evaporations from the forests going up like clouds of steam.
"Phew! this is going to be a corker!" exclaimed Dick, as he mopped the perspiration from his brow. ”

“ Robert Menden was feeling better, and presently he said he felt strong enough to walk to their camp. He leaned on old Jacob's arm, while the boys carried the treasure between them. The rope was left dangling in the water. "So that poor Dick can use it, if he comes around," as Bob said, clutching at a hope that was vain-less.
Night found them established in a new camp, still sad, and next to silent. They had the treasure safe, but at what a fearful cost.
"It's enough to make one fling it away," sighed Bob. ”

“ Smaller ridges came down toward them, the lower ones more smooth on their tops, and covered with great patches of grass, where fed cattle and sheep innumerable.
"It's certainly a charming island, so far as looks go," murmured Leander. "But I believe this atmosphere would make the most active man in the world lazy sooner or later."
"It's a good climate for invalids," said Robert Menden. "Some day Porto Rico is bound to become a great winter resort for Americans and others." ”

“ He was just in time to behold a shadow cross the doorsill and glide into the next apartment, where Robert Menden, old Jacob and Danny were sleeping.
Then a slight puff of air came in at one of the windows, extinguishing the smoky lamp and leaving all in total darkness.
"Wake up, all of you!" cried Don, at the top 110of his lungs. "Somebody is here who doesn't belong here!" ”

“ Suddenly a shot rang through the stillness of the night air, followed by two others.
"Gracious! what does that mean?" demanded Bob, leaping up.
"Perhaps it's the fight Danny mentioned," answered Dick, grimly. He looked at his pistol. "I've a good mind to walk down the trail and investigate."
"You may walk right into danger, Dick."
"I'll risk it. You and Danny remain here until I get back. There is no use in all of us going." ”

“ It was a tough job; but once Dick knew he had not some animal to contend with, or monster of the deep, he grew calmer, and in a minute more Leander was free, and the others were helping him back to the yacht.
Dick brought with him some of the seaweed, which was dark green in color and covered with a whitish slime which gave one a shiver to touch.
Poor Leander was too exhausted to stand, upon reaching the deck, and had to be assisted to the cabin, where he was rubbed down and put to bed. ”

“ With brutal force the man dragged the weak and worn-out lad to his camp. With some handy vines he bound Dick's hands behind him, and then fastened the youth to a slanting rock. The rock was thin and set up against a second rock, leaving an opening like the letter A beneath. ”

“ Bob set his teeth hard. Half a dozen people were yelling at him, but it is doubtful if he heard a word of the advice. His one thought was centered on the little girl and what he might do to save the creature. "I must do it," he muttered. "I must!"
On and on came the team, carriage drivers and bicyclists losing no time in getting out of the way, so that they themselves might escape injury. In such a moment, "self-preservation is the first law of nature," to nine out of every ten human beings.
Whizz! It was Don's coat that flew forth, just as the team ranged up almost in front of him. ”

“ Turning, he saw himself confronted by several gentlemen, one of whom carried a pistol.
"Mr. Grey!" gasped Dick—as he recognized the gentleman Bob had brought to the Dashaway, while taking on stores at St. Augustine—"Help me, please!"
"Why, is it possible!" ejaculated the merchant. "You are—er—the young man from that yacht, are you not?"
"Yes, sir."
"And who is this—this villain?"
"An Englishman, who has tried to do our party a great deal of injury. He claims that a treasure that we have been hunting for belongs to him." ”

“ I told how four boys, Dick Wilbur, Bob Hobart, Don Harrison and Leander Carson organized the Gun and Sled Club, and went off on a long winter outing on Snow-Top Island. They were accompanied by Danny Guirk, a poor but merry-hearted Irish lad, who did all sorts of odds and ends of work for them, and amid snow and ice the club went gunning, fishing, ice-boat sailing and the like to their hearts' content. ”

“ The sun was out clear, and now the heat began to tell on them.
"I move we rest," suggested Leander; and this was readily agreed to, and they sat down under an immense plantain, covered with half ripe fruit—that fruit which we commonly know by the name of banana, although the real banana is red.
"Are there any wild animals in Porto Rico?" questioned Don.
"I'm sure I don't know," answered Robert Menden. "I shouldn't look for anything very large on an island of this size. All the large stock has probably been killed off by the natives." ”

“ How beautiful the palms are!"
"I guess we'll see as much of tropical life as we care for when we reach Porto Rico," replied Bob. "Gracious, but it's warm!" he added, wiping the perspiration from his brow.
"And we'll find it hot enough, too," laughed his chum. "That trip to the interior won't be exactly a picnic, Bob."
"That's true. But then a fellow can stand something for the sake of making a lot of money. I wish we had time to stay here a few days. I would like to go out into the wood with a gun, and see what I could knock over." ”

“ On all sides were the evidences of the terrific storm—shattered trees, bushes laid flat, and here and there a ripped-up portion of grass, as if some giant's hand had reached down and twisted it up from the roots.
"It's wonderful what a power the wind has when it lets itself loose," remarked Dick. "I'm awfully glad we weren't caught out in the open."
"That's so," said Don. "We would have been blown to Kingdom Come."
179When they reached the entrance to the Dark Cave they looked around for some trace of Remora and of Joseph Farvel's party ”

“ Both of the negroes nodded. Then they withdrew, to consult one with another. Presently they came back.
"How much give if pull you out de hole?" demanded the one who had previously spoken.
"Give?" came from both boys simultaneously.
"Ye—as, Americano rich boys, not so?"
"No, we are not rich," replied Dick in disgust. "But we'll pay you, don't fear."
"How much give?"
"Oh, I don't know."
"We'll give you a dollar," added Leander. "Gosh, but they believe in making money, don't they," he added, in a whisper.
"No take dollar," came from the Porto Rican. "Take ten dollar."
"Ten dollars!" ”

“ If we ever lay hands on that treasure, it won't be worth any more than the trouble of getting it."
A number of birds were flying over his head, and had he been out for sport with a shotgun he could have brought down several bagsful of the saucy creatures, which even dared to circle directly before his face. But with Joseph Farvel so close at hand he did not deem it prudent to fire his pistol even in fun.
The end of the jungle reached, Dick came out into an open patch probably a hundred feet in circumference. ”

“ While the physician set to work to make Joseph Farvel as easy as circumstances permitted, the others turned to Dick and made him relate his tale, the boy only omitting the interesting detail that the treasure had been found.
"I've heard of these treasures, in Ponce," said the coffee trader. "They will belong to anybody who finds them. The smuggler who placed them there left no heirs."
Dick thought Joseph Farvel had suffered enough for his misdeeds, and decided to let the man go his own way—which was not saving much, as he had to be conveyed by litter to a wretched little hospital at Caguas. ”

“ They had stuck together before in extreme peril, and they would do the same again.
"Keep up; we are coming!" shouted Dick, and having procured a long kitchen knife he swam toward Leander with all speed. Soon the others had armed themselves in a similar fashion and were following. Even faithful old Dash seemed to realize that something was wrong, and with a loud splash he, too, went over the yacht's side.
"They have grit, as you Americans would say," observed Robert Menden. "What do you think it is?"
"We'll know in a minit," replied old Jacob, and rushed for a gun. ”

“ The native's name was Carlos Remora, and all found him "a pretty decent sort of a fellow," to use Robert Menden's manner of expressing it. He was a heavy-set mulatto and spoke very fair English.
"I travel to Florida once," he said, with much pride. "I show a man how to raise oranges. Stay dare two years, den come back here."
"Why didn't you remain in Florida?" queried Don.
"Wife no like it dare—she have all her family here. But now wife dead and Carlos Remora alone in de worl'." ”

“ Now the driftwood had flickered down to the last dead twig. He tried to save the tiny flame—but with a flicker it went out—and all became as black as night around him—yes, even blacker than night.
He sank down on a rock, almost stunned. All of the stories of people lost in caves and coal mines that he had ever heard about, crossed his 238mind—how they had wandered about for days without food and drink and light, to be found at last either dead or jibbering idiots. He felt that it would not take much to turn him crazy. ”

“ With extreme caution Dick untied the noose about him, and adjusted it under Menden's arms. Then he braced himself on the ledge, and called to those above to haul away, and they did so. As the body swung upward, the canvas bag slipped on Dick's head, and he let it fall to his feet.
It was no mean task to get the unconscious man to the top of the fissure and to a place of safety. But this accomplished, old Jacob set to work to bind up his wounds and restore him to himself. In the meantime the boys lowered the rope once more for Dick. ”

“ It was no easy matter to rush through Dick's long orders for stores, but they did their best, and by two o'clock of the afternoon following, the yacht was ready for a journey of a thousand miles or more.
"We won't live on the fat of the land," 37grinned Dick. "But we won't have to live on salt meat, either."
"I don't mind some salt meat," smiled Robert Menden, "but I don't like too much of it."
While Dick was superintending the loading of the stores, Don and Bob strolled off to take a look at the ancient town, which possesses several points of interest. ”

“ Here the lower cave was not over five to six feet wide, but of such a height that the torches failed to light up the ceiling. The opening seemed to be a winding one and without end.
"If we don't look out, we'll get lost," said Bob. "We must be an awful way from the entrance."
As they advanced, Robert Menden threw down a little crushed rice, with which he had filled several of his pockets. "We can follow that trail back, if the worst comes to the worst," he declared. "But it will be a long and tedious work." ”

“ As in coming, they encountered a severe storm, and once came very close to drifting on the rocks in a calm, when the anchor was lost and not recovered.
But taken all in all, the voyage was a happy one. On the first days out they tried to count up the value of the treasure. But this was impossible, as they had no idea what the precious stones would bring in.
"I believe the gold is worth all of twenty thousand dollars," said Robert Menden. "Perhaps the stones are worth as much more."
"That will be forty thousand dollars," replied Leander. "Quite a haul, eh?" and he winked his eye joyfully. ”

“ The crack in the flooring was eight to ten feet wide; but taking a run, Robert Menden cleared the distance, and aided by a rope, several others followed.
From this side they could look into the hollow under the tablet with ease. But this gave them little satisfaction, for the opening was as empty as Dick had mentioned.
"I've a good mind to try my luck with the rope," said Robert Menden. "We brought it along for the purpose of getting down holes, you know."
"Well, we'll let ye down as carefully as possible," answered old Jacob.
A noose was made and slipped around Menden's body, under his arms. ”