All waited for d.i.c.k to come up, but second after second pa.s.sed and the eldest Rover boy failed to appear.

"Something is wrong!" gasped Tom, in alarm. "Maybe his head struck on the bottom," cried Sam. "If he is dead, you'll pay the penalty!" he cried, to those on the sh.o.r.e of the rocky pool.

All were worried, for those above had not expected anything of this sort to happen. They looked down, but could see nothing of d.i.c.k.

"I'm going to hunt for him!" cried Tom, and leaving the rocks upon which he was standing, he swam with all haste in the direction of the spot where his big brother had gone down. Seeing this, Sam followed his example.

"Perhaps we had better be getting out of here!" muttered Jim Pally, turning pale.

"No! no! let us see if they bring d.i.c.k Rover up!" answered Tad Sobber, hoa.r.s.ely.

The firebrand was swung into a larger blaze and the glare cast on the waters. As the rays lit up the weird scene, Tom set up a sudden shout.

"There he is!"

"Where?" demanded Sam.

"Over yonder! I just saw him bob up. Quick, Sam, before he goes to the bottom!"

The brothers swam to the spot indicated by Tom with all possible speed, and Tom made a dive under the surface. When he came up again he had hold of d.i.c.k's left foot.

"I've go-got him!" he gasped. "Hel-help me!"

For reply Sam ranged up by his brother's side, and between them they raised d.i.c.k up and swam with him to the spot where the water was shallow.

Then they stood there, in water up to their knees, supporting d.i.c.k as best they could. The oldest Rover boy was all but unconscious.

"Going to help us?" yelled Tom, to their enemies.

"What's the matter with him?" asked Tad Sobber.

"Oh, I fancy he was only shamming!" came from Josiah Crabtree. "Come on away."

"Don't you dare to leave us here!" cried Sam.

"Help us out," came from Tom. "It is your duty to do it."

"Not much!" answered Tad Sobber, with a sneer. "You can help yourself-if you can!" And with these words he walked away, in company with Crabtree and Pally, leaving the Rovers to their fate in the water and the darkness.

CHAPTER XXIX A MINUTE TOO LATE

"Of all the rascals!" murmured Tom, as the light faded from sight.

"They are the worst!" supplemented Sam. And then he added: "How do you feel d.i.c.k?"

"Oh, I-I guess I'll come around!" murmured the oldest Rover boy. "But I came pretty close to being drowned!" he added, with a shudder. "I struck something and it about stunned me, and I swallowed a lot of water."

Tom and Sam continued to hold up their brother until d.i.c.k had recovered sufficiently to support himself. As they stood on the submerged rocks, they listened for some sound from their enemies, but none came.

"Maybe they have left the cave," suggested Sam, after ten or fifteen minutes had pa.s.sed.

"This is a fierce place," was Tom's comment. "It's just like a great big well!"

"And we are like the frogs at the bottom of the well!" added d.i.c.k, grimly. He felt a little weak, but otherwise was all right.

"I looked around when we had the light of that torch," said Tom, "but I didn't see any place where a fellow could climb out, did you?"

"Nary a spot, Tom," answered Sam. "The walls were all as smooth and as slippery as gla.s.s."

"Do you think they mean to leave us here to die?" asked d.i.c.k.

"I shouldn't think they'd be as heartless as all that," came from Tom.

"They'd be afraid of consequences."

An hour went by-just then it was an age-and at last the boys saw a glimmer of light approaching. It flickered and flared over the walls for fully a minute and then commenced to fade.

"Somebody went past, through the main cave!" cried Tom. "Wonder who it was?"

"The Sobber crowd most likely," returned d.i.c.k.

"But it might be somebody else!" cried Sam. "I'm going to yell and find out."

He raised his voice in a loud call, and Tom and d.i.c.k joined in. Several minutes went by, and they called again. Then they saw the flickering of the light once more.

"Who is there?" came faintly to their ears.

"This way! This way!" shouted one Rover boy after another.

"Be careful of where you step!" cautioned Tom.

"Where are you?"

"This way!" they answered, and kept calling until the light of a ship's lantern came into view, and they saw Captain Wells and Larry Dixon approaching.

"Well, I never!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the captain of the steam tug, as he came to a halt on the brink of the blackish pool. "How in the world did you git down there?"

"Help us out first, and then we'll tell you," replied d.i.c.k, quickly.

"Didn't you meet our enemies?" asked Tom.

"Nary a soul have we met since we landed," answered the captain.

"Which way did you enter the cave?" asked Sam.

"By the slit in the rocks-where you came in," answered Larry Dixon. "I watched you disappear, and afterwards I heard some yelling. Then I got scared and ran down to the sh.o.r.e and signalled for the steam tug to come in. I told the cap'n all I knew, and he came ash.o.r.e with a lantern to see what was wrong-and here we be."