Ralph Bonehill

“ Yet all on board the Dashaway realized that a human life was in peril, and that some risk must be run in order to effect a rescue, were such a thing possible.
"I can't see him now," said old Jacob, as the lightning seemed to subside for the time being. "It's as black as night."
"Let us fire up with a Bengal light," suggested Leander, and ran off for the article. Soon it was spluttering in the rain, but brightening up the scene about them for several hundred feet.
"Help! help!" came faintly to their ears, as the Dashaway drew closer to the upturned rowboat. "Don't leave me to perish! Help!" ”

“ To Dick and Leander it seemed an age. Again they cried out, but the top of the hole being smaller than the bottom, their voices were as muffled as though they were prisoners in a huge bottle.
"This is truly a pickle," groaned Dick, as he threw himself on one of the fallen rocks. "I must say, I'm stumped."
"So am I."
"I'm going to try throwing stones out of the hole," said Dick, after another interval of silence. "Anything is better than doing nothing."
Both boys began to shy out all of the stones they could pick up. ”

“ The end of the jungle reached, Dick came out into an open patch probably a hundred feet in circumference. It was covered with moss, and unsuspicious of danger he started to cross to the other side.
But the moss only covered one of the most treacherous of bogs, and the youth had scarcely covered fifteen feet of the distance than he sank up to his ankles in the sticky soil. Growing alarmed, he tried to turn back, only to find himself glued to the spot, and sinking deeper and deeper with every movement made to extricate himself. ”

“ I am much obliged for what you did for me."
"That's all right."
"Always ready to help a gentleman in distress," observed Danny, with a wink behind Farvel's back at Leander.
"That's all right. So you are bound for the mountains. Beware of the boles, or caves, as some of the natives call them!"
"We have this man with us as a guide," said Leander.
"Indeed! Well, take care, that's all I have to say, and good-bye to you," and so speaking, Joseph Farvel staggered off, but at a rapid gait.
"He certainly has grit," whispered Leander. "He's a bad man to have for an enemy. What wicked eyes!" ”

“ The Dashaway had been cruising off the shore of the Carolinas for the best part of a week. She was as trim and substantial a yacht as one could meet anywhere, and had been built especially for Dick Wilbur's uncle by a firm of ship constructors who made a specialty of this class of work. She was long and narrow—yet not too narrow for safety—and while her mast was a towering one, the ballast of lead in her keel was sufficient to render her sailing qualities good even in a heavy blow. ”

“ But there were still many things to learn, and now Robert Menden announced that he would take lessons in seamanship, too.
"I don't want you to think I am lazy," he said. "I am just as willing to work as anybody. I expect by the time Porto Rico is reached I'll be a regular old salt."
"We can't get to that island fast enough for me," cried Bob. "I'm crazy to get at that treasure." And he felt like dancing a jig for joy, little dreaming of all the thrilling adventures and grave perils in store for the party. ”

“ Bob broke off short and pointed up the broad highway. Around a bend a fine carriage had appeared, drawn by a team of coal black steeds.
For some reason not now apparent, the team had taken their bits in their teeth and were running away at topmost speed.
The turnout had two seats, but its sole occupant was a little girl not over six or seven years of age—a pale, blue-eyed creature, with yellow curls streaming down her back.
"Help! stop the bad, bad horses!" sobbed the little girl, as the tears of terror ran down her cheeks. ”

“ 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. ”

“ They now turned off into another branch of the great cave—a long, narrow opening twenty to thirty feet in height. Here the rocky formation was soft and crumbling, and they had to pick their way with care.
"A slight shock would send down tons and tons of that stuff," said Robert Menden, as he pointed to the loose masses hanging as by threads over their heads. "Ugh! it gives a fellow the shivers to look at it." ”

“ The cry came from Don, and was taken up by several of the others.
"We've struck a cemetery of bones," said Bob; and he was right. On all sides of the chamber were piles of bones, with here and there a row of skeleton heads!
"There must be nigh onto a thousand o' 'em," muttered old Jacob, as he surveyed the scene, "Never saw sech a tarnal sight in my life!"
"It's certainly a grim spectacle," returned Robert Menden. "I wonder how they happened to place these bones here?" ”

“ 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.
By this time poor Leander was utterly exhausted. The thing about his legs was growing tighter and tighter and pulling downward so heavily that the barrel to which the boy clung was almost totally submerged.
"Save me!" he gasped once more. "I'm going down! It's pulling me under!" ”

“ 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!" And then he heard the Englishman utter a short groan.
"He's alive!" he shouted. "But he's badly wounded."
"Better send him up, then," returned Leander. "Do you want another rope?" ”

“ As he came closer, Dick saw that the fowl had steel spurs attached to his legs.
"A dead gamecock," he muttered. "I'll wager there has been cock-fighting somewhere, and Señor Maguel is going to dish us up the defeated fowl."
Dick hurried back to the others and told them of what he had seen. At once old Jacob grew indignant and rushed to the rear of the inn, where the servant was in the act of decapitating the dead fowl with an axe.
"We won't eat thet, consarn ye!" he cried, pointing his long, bony finger at the fowl. "We want chicken—good barnyard fowls—an' don't ye forgit it!" ”

“ To Dick it seemed that Dash would never come back. The sun mounted higher and higher in the sky until it poured directly down upon the youth. He was tremendously thirsty and would have given almost anything for a drink of water.
He had sunk lower, so now only his head was above the top of the swamp. The water was beginning to collect about him, and he felt that before sunset he must drown, if he were not rescued. Oh, how bitterly he regretted having attempted to cross the quagmire. ”

“ The fury of the storm had caused the Dashaway to move far out to sea, and when, at eleven in the morning, old Jacob announced that all danger was over, they calculated that it would take them twenty-four hours and more to reach Savannah, whither they had been bound for some extra ship's supplies.
"I don't care—so long as we have enough eating to last us," was Dick's comment. "I'm happy to escape with my life." ”

“ Among the articles they carried, the boys had several fishing lines, and while Danny rested, Bob and Dick baited with some land crabs they succeeded in catching, and threw into the stream to try their luck.
"I've got a bite!" cried Bob, a half minute later, and drew in his haul, a tiny brown fish weighing not over three or four ounces. "Not worth anything," he muttered, disappointedly.
A short while later Dick felt a jerk, and at once his line began to leave his hand rapidly. "Something, big," he cried, and played his catch as skillfully as he could. ”

“ Bob uttered the words mechanically, as with staring eyes he gazed at the stretch of water which the carriage was approaching so rapidly. He felt that it would be impossible to stop the team before the river bank was gained. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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."
"That is no reason why he should treat you in this fashion. Stand where you are, sir, while I release the youth."
Several of the party sprang to Dick's side and one cut the vines. Then Garrison Grey turned to collar Joseph Farvel. ”

“ While they were sorting out their goods, old Jacob, who was at the doorway, announced that somebody was approaching.
"It's a man, but who, I can't tell, it's that dark," he said. "Better prepare to give him a surprise."
"I believe it's Farvel, and that this other stuff is his," said Robert Menden.
But as the newcomer came closer, all were surprised to see, not Joseph Farvel, but Bumbum, the good-for-nothing Carib.
"We've made a big mistake," murmured Menden. ”

“ The trail led over the very top of the mountain and to a little bamboo shack on the other side.
Nobody was in sight and they rightfully guessed that the bamboo shelter was deserted.
Entering, they found all of their traps piled up in a corner, together with some things which did not belong to them.
"Here's our stuff, and more," cried Don. "Good for Dash! He makes the best kind of a detective." ”

“ Dick promised to do so, and all kept the line taut as before. They heard Menden moving around and heard him toss several small rocks aside.
Then came a sudden yell, followed by the fall of some dirt or rocks, they could not tell which. The rope came up so quickly that all fell back in dismay.
"Something is wrong!" gasped Don. "Menden, are you all right?"
There was no answer to his cry, and he and Dick bent over the edge to investigate. But the torch was hidden, or had gone out, and they could see nothing.
"Haul up the rope," said old Jacob, quietly; and it was quickly done. ”

“ As the team went on, the horse carrying Bob's weight lagged slightly behind, and when the side road was reached, both steeds turned and darted in the new direction.
By this time poor Bob realized that he had cut out a large piece of work for himself. He wanted to swing himself up on the animal's back, but for several minutes was unable to do so. In the meantime the carriage swayed more violently than ever.
"Stop the bad horses!" shrieked the little girl, and then arose to her feet, as if to jump from the carriage. ”

“ While resting, Dick told of the encounter with Joseph Farvel. Then he asked what had become of Menden and the others.
"They are all in camp up on the mountainside," answered Bob. "They made a tour of one small cave yesterday, but found nothing. We were all going out to-day, but went off on a hunt for you instead."
"If Robert Menden is smart he will lose no time. Joseph Farvel means to get that treasure if he can."
"Well, I reckon it's going to be a neck and neck race," said Bob. "All I hope is, that Menden proves to be the winner." ”

“ Lost in that veritable jungle, which appeared to stretch out for miles on every side of him. The tall tropical trees were everywhere, festooned with monstrous vines, while below grew the dank moss and fungi, the home of countless beetles, ants, spiders and other insects. No wonder Dick shivered. ”

“ 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 vainless.
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. ”