Dave Porter on Cave Island Part 43

"Coming!" came from a distance, and in a few minutes Merwell put in an appearance, bringing with him some berries and fruits.

"One of those sailors who came ash.o.r.e with me told me about these," he said. "The berries we can eat raw and they are very good. The fruit we can slice up and toast. They make a pretty decent meal," and so it proved, and both youths ate their fill. Then Dave announced his intention of climbing the tree again and having another look around.

"That ship is at the south end of the island," he announced. "It is not the _Golden Eagle_, but a much smaller craft. Most likely it is the vessel the Englishmen engaged. If it is, those three rascals will have a chance to get away before Giles Borden can catch them and make them give up the money they took from him."

"Oh, Dave, do you think--" And then Merwell stopped short.

"What were you going to say, Link?"

"I was thinking if it would be possible for Nick to go away with those Englishmen."

"Why, yes, if he chanced to meet them, and they were willing to have him. But would he go and leave you behind?"

"He might, especially if he found out I was captured, or that I had let you have what jewels I was carrying."

"If he went with those Englishmen he would be foolish to let them know about the jewels, for they would rob him, just as they robbed Giles Borden," continued our hero, and then he realized that here was a new peril to face. If the Englishmen got their hands on the jewels it might be next to impossible to recover the gems, especially if the rascals managed to get away from Cave Island.

Presently our hero saw a column of smoke arising in another portion of the island. He watched it for several minutes and then gave a cry of satisfaction.

"I know where they are!"

"You mean your crowd?" queried Merwell.

"Yes. 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 the fire had been extinguished. "When a fellow makes a fool of himself he's got to take the consequences." And this remark was so true that Dave did not dispute it.

On they went through the forest and then over a rocky hill. Three times they came close to falling into the treacherous holes in which the island abounded, and the last time poor Merwell got a fall that almost sprained his ankle.

"We'll rest a bit and you can bathe the ankle," said Dave, kindly, and got some water from a nearby pool.

"I don't wonder n.o.body is living on this island," grumbled the injured one. "I suppose the natives around here are too afraid of falling into some of those holes."

"They are afraid of the caves and also afraid of volcanoes," answered Dave. "The mate of the _Golden Eagle_ told me that. Sometimes the volcanoes break out here without warning and cover the rocks with hot ashes."

"Is that so? Well, I hope no volcano breaks out while I am here."

At last the boys reached a small rise of ground and at a distance saw the column of smoke, plainly. Dave put on extra speed and soon saw Phil, Giles Borden, and several sailors-the survivors from the ill-fated _Emma Brower_.

"Phil!"

"Dave! At last!" cried the shipowner's son, joyfully. "Are you hurt?"

"Not a bit of it. How are you?"

"All right, although I had several tumbles while hunting for you. You disappeared in the strangest fashion."

"I fell into a cave,-went down with Link Merwell."

"Oh!" Phil gave a start. "Who is that in the bushes? Merwell, as sure as I'm alive!"

"Yes, Phil. And what do you think? I've got part of the jewels-Link had them in his money-belt."

"Good enough! I was so afraid they had been lost out of that jewel-case. Did you make Merwell a prisoner?"

"Well, in a way. He might have run away a dozen times, but I guess he didn't want to be alone. Besides, he has quarreled with Jasniff. I'll tell you all about it later," went on Dave, in a lower tone.

Merwell had halted and now he came shuffling into the temporary camp.

He nodded sheepishly to the shipowner's son and to the sailors.

"Got ye, did they?" said one of the tars, with a sneer.

"Yes," answered the culprit, meekly.

"Humph! You're a fine d.i.c.k to run away and steal jewels!" muttered the sailor, and turned his back on the youth.

"Where are Roger and Captain Sanders and the others?" questioned Dave.

"Gone after you, and after Jasniff and those three rascally Englishmen," answered Phil. "I said I'd stay here and try that trick with a column of smoke. I thought you might remember and look for it."

"It was a good thing to do, Phil," answered our hero, "for it brought us straight to this spot."

CHAPTER XXVII-BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF VINES

An hour went by and during that time Dave drew Phil to one side and related the particulars concerning the doings of Merwell and Jasniff, according to the story told by the former of the two evil-disposed youths.

"I think Link feels pretty sore," he continued. "So there won't be any use in rubbing it in."

"What do you intend to do with him, Dave?"

"I don't know yet. We'll talk it over later on. The thing to do now is to locate Jasniff and get the rest of the jewels. Don't forget that he has the finest of the diamonds. That is one thing that made Link sore-Jasniff taking the lion's share."

"Well, that was the way Jasniff always did, even at school. Now you've got back I'm willing to start the search for him any time you say,"

continued the shipowner's son.

"We'll wait a while and see if Roger and Captain Sanders return,"

answered our hero.

He was glad to rest, and threw himself on a bed of moss the sailors had collected. Merwell sat against a tree, tired out, but too much worried to sleep. Evidently he was trying to decide on what to do next and wondering how he was to get out of the awful situation in which he found himself.

Presently a shout was heard, and Roger burst into view, followed an instant later by Billy Dill.

"h.e.l.lo, Dave!" cried the senator's son. "Got back, have you?" And then he stared at Merwell. "Oh, are you here, too?"