"I think he is the rascal who got the fortune at the lumber company office," whispered d.i.c.k. "His appearance tallies with the description Mrs. Stanhope left. Come on, let us follow him. I think he will lead us directly to where Sobber and Crabtree are, and Mrs. Sobber and Mrs.

Stanhope, too."

And d.i.c.k led the way with the others at his heels.

CHAPTER XXVII WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAVE

The man ahead hurried along over the rocks so quickly that the Rovers and Larry Dixon had difficulty in keeping up with him.

"He's a bird for moving," was the old sailor's comment. "Splice my main brace! but I wish he'd put a reef or two in his legs!"

The man ahead suddenly made a turn around some rocks. The boys and the tar followed cautiously, so as not to be surprised.

"Wait here, I'll look ahead and investigate," said d.i.c.k. And he shoved some bushes aside.

A surprise awaited him-but not of the sort he had antic.i.p.ated. The man had disappeared!

Vainly did d.i.c.k look in all directions for him. He was as completely gone as if the earth had opened and swallowed him up.

"Can he have entered some opening in the rocks?" the youth asked himself.

With added caution he moved forward a few steps further. Then, between some dense bushes, he saw a slit in some high rocks. The slit was irregular in shape but not over a foot wide in any one place.

"What do you see?" asked Tom, who, growing impatient, had followed his big brother.

"He seems to have disappeared, Tom," was the low reply.

"Did he go in there?"

"That is just what I was wondering."

d.i.c.k looked into the slit. It was of uncertain depth and looked dark and uninviting. Then the whole crowd searched the neighborhood. Not a trace of the stranger was discernable anywhere.

"Well, he didn't fly up in the air," said Sam. "He must have gone somewhere. Why not look into that opening, d.i.c.k?"

"You look out that you don't get shot!" warned Tom. "That fellow, if he is one of the old freight thieves and the rascal who robbed Mrs. Stanhope of the valise with the fortune, must be a desperate character."

"If I go in, it will be pistol first," answered d.i.c.k, grimly.

He drew the weapon Captain Wells had loaned him, and slowly but cautiously wormed his way between the rocks. It was so dark he had to feel his way along, and, fearing that he might fall into some hole, he did not advance a step until he was sure of his footing.

"Shall we come?" called Tom, softly.

"Not yet," answered d.i.c.k.

He pa.s.sed along a distance of fifteen or twenty feet. Then the pa.s.sageway widened, and he found himself standing on a rocky flooring that was comparatively smooth.

"Gracious! can this be one of the entrances to the smugglers' cave they told about?" he mused.

He continued to advance, and presently caught sight of a flicker of light, playing over the uneven rocks that formed the roof of the cavern.

"That must come from a campfire!" he murmured. "And if it does. I must have struck the right spot. Maybe this is where they are holding Dora's mother a prisoner!"

He continued to go forward, and the light of the fire grew brighter. Then of a sudden, he heard a step behind him.

"Will spy on me, will you!" cried a voice, vindictively, and in a trice he was struck a blow on the back of the head. He went down in a heap, and a man leaped on top of him and held him fast. Then commenced a fierce struggle, in the midst of which d.i.c.k's pistol went off, making a tremendous report in that confined s.p.a.ce. The bullet struck the rocks, doing no damage.

The pistol had been close to d.i.c.k's head and the discharge caused the smoke to get into his face, choking and blinding him. Then he received another blow, and for a minute or two knew no more.

"Listen!" cried Tom, as the pistol went off. "d.i.c.k must be in trouble!

Come on, Sam!"

"Yes, but be careful," was the answer.

"Want me?" asked the old tar, anxiously.

"You had better stay on guard here, for the present," replied Tom.

"Just as you say, messmate."

Tom wormed his way between the rocks and Sam followed. The pistol shot was followed by silence, and the two Rover boys did not know what to make of it.

"Shall I call?" asked Sam.

"Might as well," was Tom's reply, and both called d.i.c.k's name as loudly as they could.

"Help! help!" came back faintly.

"We are coming!" yelled Tom, rushing forward. "Where are you?"

"I am her--" was the answer, and then of a sudden all became quiet again, as a hand was placed over d.i.c.k's mouth.

With their weapons ready for use, Tom and Sam ran through the cavern. But all was silent, and the flickering rays from the campfire beyond were too faint for them to see much.

"d.i.c.k! d.i.c.k! Where are you?" called out Tom.

"To the left!" was the faint reply. "Turn to the left!"

The voice sounded m.u.f.fled, as if the speaker was being strangled, and with their hearts in their throats, Tom and Sam advanced and at a break in the rocky wall, turned to the left. Hardly had they gone a dozen steps when they plunged downward into s.p.a.ce.

"Oh!" came from both, and then followed a mighty splash, as the pair struck the water. Each went down over his head, and on coming up had to strike out to keep from drowning.

"Sam! Sam!" cried Tom.

"I'm here!" was the spluttered-out reply. "Are you hurt?"