"What's this?" he asked of Captain Sanders.

"No telling, lad," was the grave reply. "Looks like a pretty big blow."

"More like a hurricane!" snorted old Billy Dill. "The wind is growin'

wuss each minit!"

"Draw that boat up into the bushes and fasten it well," ordered the captain. "We don't want to have it stove in or floated off by the breakers." And the rowboat was carried to a place of safety.

"Where is the ship?" asked Roger.

"Slipped away when the blow came up," answered the captain. "An' I hope the mate knows enough to keep away," he added, gravely.

Soon it started to rain, first a few scattering drops and then a perfect deluge. The castaways spoke of a cave that was near by, and all hurried in that direction, taking the stores from the boat with them.

"How long will this last, do you think?" asked Phil, of the master of the _Golden Eagle_.

"No telling. Maybe only to-day, maybe several days."

"If it last several days, we'll have a time of it getting food," broke in the senator's son.

"We'll watch out for fish and turtles," said Billy Dill. "Nothin' like turtles when you are good an' hungry."

"That's true," answered Dave. He had not forgotten the big turtle the old tar had managed to catch down on one of the islands in the South Seas.

Soon it was raining so hard that but little could be seen beyond the entrance to the cave. The wind moaned and shrieked throughout the cavern, which happened to have several entrances. Once it became so strong that it almost lifted the boys from their feet. The rain drove in at times, and they had to get into a split in the rocks to keep dry.

"Hark! what was that?" cried Roger, during a lull in the wind.

"I heard thunder; that's all," answered Phil.

"I think a tree must have been struck by lightning," answered Captain Sanders. "The lightning is getting pretty fierce," he added, as a brilliant illumination filled the cavern.

"Wonder where Jasniff and Merwell are?" whispered Phil, to his chums, "I'll wager this storm scares 'em half to death."

"Yes, and those four Englishmen," added Dave. "Don't forget that they were coming to this island."

Slowly the hours of the morning dragged by. There was no let-up in the hurricane, for such it really proved to be. The wind blew strongly all the time, but occasionally would come a heavy blast that fairly made the island tremble. The lightning had died away somewhat, but now and then would come a great flash, followed by a crash and rumble that would echo and reecho among the rocks.

"Just look at the ocean!" cried Dave, as he and his chums walked to one corner of the entrance to gaze out.

"The waves seem to be mountain-high," returned Phil. "You wouldn't think it possible a ship could live on such a sea."

"Well, it is mighty dangerous, Phil; you know that as well as I do."

"I hope the _Golden Eagle_ weathers the storm."

"We all hope that."

Dinner was a rather scanty meal, cooked with great difficulty in a hollow of the rocks. The smoke from the fire rolled and swirled in all directions, nearly blinding everybody. But the repast was better than nothing, and n.o.body grumbled.

By nightfall the rain ceased. But the wind was almost as strong as ever, and when those in the cave ventured outside they had to be on guard, for fear a flying tree-branch would come down on their heads.

Captain Sanders was much worried over the safety of his vessel, but he did not let on to the boys, since it would have done no good. But the lads understood, and they, too, were more or less alarmed, remembering the fate that had overtaken the _Emma Brower_ in a storm that had been no worse than the present one.

With so much rain driving in, the cave was a damp place, and the boys were glad enough to go outside. They looked for wood that might be easily dried, and after much difficulty, succeeded in starting up a new campfire, around which the whole crowd gathered.

"I'm goin' to try my luck along sh.o.r.e," said Billy Dill, and started off with Dave, Phil, and Roger, to see if any fish or turtles could be located. They found the sh.o.r.e strewn with wreckage.

"Oh, Billy, can this be from our ship?" exclaimed Phil, in alarm.

"I don't think so, lad. Looks to me like it had been in the water some days. I reckon it's from the _Emma Brower_, or some other craft."

In the wreckage they found the remains of several boxes and barrels.

But the contents had become water-soaked or had sunk to the bottom of the sea; so there was nothing in the shape of food for them. They also came across the mainmast of the bark, with some of the stays still dragging around it.

"That will do for a pole, in case we wish to hoist a flag," suggested the senator's son.

They found neither fish nor turtles, and at last had to return to the campfire disappointed. There was next to nothing to eat for supper.

"Well, better luck in the morning," said Captain Sanders, with an air of cheerfulness he did not feel. "As soon as this wind dies down our ship will come back, and then we'll have all we want to eat."

It was a long, dreary night that followed, and the boys were glad to behold the sun come up brightly in the morning. Dave was the first up, but his chums quickly followed, and all went down to the beach, to look for fish and also to see if the _Golden Eagle_ was anywhere in sight.

This time they had better luck, so far as food was concerned. In a hollow they found over a score of fish that had been cast from the ocean by the breakers, and they also found a fine turtle that was pinned down by a fallen tree.

"That's a new way to catch a turtle," remarked Dave. "It's a regular trap."

"Turtle soup, yum! yum!" murmured Phil.

"And broiled fish,-all you want, too!" added Roger, smacking his lips.

When they got back to the camp they found that the fire had been renewed, and soon the appetizing odor of broiling fish filled the air.

Then Captain Sanders and one of the castaway sailors came in from a walk in another direction, carrying an airtight canister, which, on being opened, was found to contain fancy crackers.

"There is a good deal of wreckage down on the beach," said the captain. "We'll inspect it after breakfast."

Having eaten their fill of the fish and the crackers, and leaving Billy Dill and some of the others busy making turtle soup, the boys and Captain Sanders took another walk along the beach, to look over the wreckage and also see if they could sight the _Golden Eagle_, or locate Jasniff or Merwell.

"I hope we can find those two fellows," said Dave. "I can stand this suspense no longer. I must know what has become of those jewels!"

CHAPTER XXIII-A STRANGE DISCOVERY

A half-mile was covered when, on turning a point of rocks, the boys and the captain came to a sandy cove. Here was more of the wreckage, and the whole party ran down to the beach to investigate.

Boxes, barrels, and bits of timber were strewn from one end of the cove to the other, and in the ma.s.s were a number of things of more or less value-timber, food, and some clothing. There was also a trunk, but it was open and empty.