Dave Porter on Cave Island Part 37

"Look!" cried Dave, suddenly, and pointed to a small, black leather case, that rested on some of the wreckage.

"What is it?" queried Phil and Roger, in a breath.

Dave did not reply, for he was crawling over the wreckage with care.

Soon he reached the spot where the black leather case rested, caught on a nail, and he picked it up. The clasp was undone and the case fell open, revealing the interior, which was lined with white plush.

"Empty!" murmured Dave, sadly. "Empty!" There was a groan in his voice as he uttered the word.

"What is it, Dave?" asked the senator's son, although he and Phil guessed the truth.

"It's the Carwith jewel-case," was the answer. "The very case that Mr.

Carwith left with Mr. Wadsworth!"

"Are you certain?" demanded Phil.

"Yes, for here is the name, 'Ridgewood Osgood Carwith,' stamped in gold on the top."

"And empty," murmured the captain. "This looks bad," and he shook his head, thoughtfully.

"Maybe Jasniff and Merwell took the jewels from the case," suggested Roger, hopefully.

"It is possible, Roger. But-but-I am afraid the jewels are at the bottom of the ocean," answered Dave, and his face showed how downcast he felt.

"They might have taken the jewels and divided them between themselves," said Phil. "Maybe they put them in money-belts, or something like that. They might think that the sailors would rob them, if they saw the case."

"It's possible, Phil, and I hope you are right," answered our hero.

But in his heart he was still afraid that the gems had gone to the bottom of the Atlantic.

"I think we had better climb to the top of yonder rise and take a look around the island," said the captain. "For all we know, the _Golden Eagle_ may be on the other side. I sincerely hope she has weathered the storm."

Placing the jewel-case in a safe place between the rocks, the party commenced to climb the rise of ground the captain had pointed out.

This was no easy task, since the rocks were rough and there were many openings, leading to the caves below.

"We don't want another tumble," remarked Roger to Dave.

"Hardly, Roger; once was enough."

The sun had come out strongly, consequently the water was drying away rapidly. It was very warm, and the boys were glad that they had donned thin clothing on leaving the ship.

At last they reached the top of the rise and from that elevation were able to see all but the southern end of Cave Island, which was hidden by a growth of palms.

Not a ship of any kind was in sight, much to the captain's disappointment.

"Must have had to sail away a good many miles," said Dave.

"Either that, lad, or else the storm caused more or less trouble."

From the elevation, all took a good look at every part of the island that could be seen. They saw several other rocky elevations and the entrances to caves innumerable.

"Tell you one thing," remarked Phil. "If there was any truth in that story of a pirates' treasure, the pirates would have plenty of places where to hide the h.o.a.rd."

"Humph! 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 sh.o.r.e over there,"

continued Roger, after another look around. "But they are so far off I am not sure. They may be animals."

"They look like two men to me," exclaimed Dave, after a long look.

"What if they should be Jasniff and Merwell! Oh, let us walk there and make sure!"

"That's a good, stiff walk," answered Captain Sanders. "We can't go from here very well-unless we want to climb over some rough rocks. It would be better to go down and follow the sh.o.r.e."

"Then let us do that. It won't do us any good to go back to where we left the others, now the ship isn't in sight."

But the captain demurred, and finally it was agreed to return to camp and start out for the other side of the island directly after dinner.

"Turtle soup for all hands!" announced Billy Dill, proudly. "Best ever made, too."

"It certainly smells good," answered Dave.

The turtle soup proved both palatable and nourishing, and, eaten with crackers, made a good meal.

"We'll take some crackers and fish along," said the captain, to the boys, when they were preparing to leave the camp again. "For there is no telling how soon we'll get back. It may take us longer than we think to reach the other side of this island."

"I've got a knapsack," said one of the castaway sailors. "You can take that along, filled," and so it was arranged. Dave carried his gun and the captain had a pistol.

"If there is any game, we'll have a try for it," said Dave. "Even a few plump birds would make fine eating."

"Yes, or a rabbit or hare," added Roger.

The party walked along the sh.o.r.e as far as they could go and then, coming to what appeared to be an old trail, took to that.

"What do you make of this path?" said Dave. "I had an idea the island was uninhabited."

"It is supposed to be," answered Captain Sanders. "But there is no reason why somebody shouldn't live here."

Presently they came to a fine spring of water. Near by lay an old rusty cup, and a little further on a broken bucket.

"Somebody has been here and that recently," was Dave's comment. "I hope we are on the trail of Merwell and Jasniff."

They walked on a little further and then, of a sudden, Captain Sanders halted the boys and pointed up into one of the trees.