For a short time it looked as if the treasure hunt would have to end right there. There seemed to be no means of crossing the chasm, and they had brought none with them.

"So near and yet so far," breathed Merritt.

But presently the major discovered a stout plank resting against the wall of the pa.s.sage. It was worm-eaten and old, but a test showed it would support them. It had evidently been left there by the old buccaneer. It caused an odd thrill to shoot through Rob, as he stepped upon it, to reflect that the last foot to press it had been in the tomb for many scores of years.

On the other side of the chasm the cave widened out. In fact, it developed into quite a s.p.a.cious chamber. The rock walls, imbedded with mica, glistened brightly in the yellow glow of the lanterns.

"We look like a convention of lightning bugs," commented Tubby, gazing about him at the unusual scene. The professor drew out a paper. He and the major bent over it, while the others listened breathlessly to ascertain the outcome of this inspection of the plan of the long lost treasure trove.

"According to the plan the treasure is located in this chamber," said the major at length.

"At any rate," added the professor, "the plan does not give any further details of the cave."

"Do you think it extends further?" inquired Merritt.

"Impossible to say. Some of these caves and their ramifications extend for many miles. When the major has concluded his quest, I think it would be of scientific interest to explore the subterranean thoroughfares at length."

All agreed with this view. But the present business speedily banished all other thoughts from their minds. Like so many hounds on the scent, the boys ran about the place, seeking for clews to the hiding place. But to their bitter disappointment all their efforts resulted in nothing. No trace of any h.o.a.rded stock of precious articles could be found.

"We had better have something to eat and then we can determine on our further course," said the major, looking at his watch; "I am convinced that the treasure is here, however, and equally positive we shall find it."

When they sat down to their meal it was discovered that, in their haste, they had forgotten to bring any water. Tubby, Hiram and Jumbo at once volunteered to fetch some in the canteens which had been left in the canoes.

"Ah'm jes' pinin' ter see dat ole Ma.s.sa Sol once mo';" confessed the negro.

"All right," said the major, "you can be one of the party, Jumbo. But hurry back, Hopkins, for I am anxious to waste no more time than necessary."

"We'll hurry," Tubby a.s.sured him.

The trio, the two boys and the black, hastened off, retracing their steps through the dark pa.s.sage of the cavern. It was a distinct relief to regain the sunlight and open air. So much so that perhaps they lingered by the concealed canoes rather longer than they should have done.

"Come on. We've wasted enough time," said Tubby at length; "let's hurry back."

They set out at a good pace. But as they pushed through the brush separating them from the cliff; in the face of which was situated the cave entrance, a sudden sound brought them to an abrupt standstill.

Tubby, who was in the lead, raised his hand for silence.

In the hush that followed they could distinctly catch the sound of voices ahead of them. At first Tubby thought that they were those of some of the party in the cave who had come out to see what had become of them. But he was speedily undeceived.

One of the voices struck suddenly on his ear with an unpleasant shock. It was a harsh, grating voice, and Tubby, to his dismay, recognized it in a flash as being that of Stonington Hunt. He had heard it too often to be mistaken.

"Are you all ready?" Hunt was saying.

A sort of growl of a.s.sent followed these words.

"What can they be up to?" asked Hiram, who was also aware now of the ident.i.ty of the voices in front of them.

"I don't know," rejoined Tubby in the same low tones; "as well as I can see, they are all on that cliff top alongside those balanced stones."

"Wonder what they are doing up there?" mused Hiram; "I suppose that----"

His voice was drowned in a loud crash as the larger of two stones was pushed over the edge of the cliff. In a flash Tubby perceived the fiendish object of Stonington Hunt and his followers.

The great rock fell directly in front of the opening of the cave. The way in or out of the underground chamber was effectually blocked, unless the obstruction was blasted with dynamite.

Cold chills ran up and down Tubby's spine. Hiram shuddered and turned white, and Jumbo groaned.

"Oh lawsy! lawsy! I knowed no good 'ud come uv meddling wif dat ole dead teef's money."

"Be quiet," ordered Tubby, sternly. With every nerve on the alert he watched Hunt peer over the cliff-face. The next moment their enemy retreated with a chuckle of laughter.

"They're all sealed up good and tight," he said. "We'll let them stay in there a day or two and then we'll blast the rock away."

"Gee, that fat kid will be thinner when he gets out," Tubby heard Freeman Hunt say as his father rejoined the group.

"Ho! ho!" thought the lad, "'that fat kid' as you call him is on the outside, Master Hunt. And it's a good thing he is, for the outside is where help will have to come from."

The watchers concealed in the brush below saw a new figure join the group on the cliff summit, a man with a great, bushy, black beard and shifty black eyes.

"Mah goodness!" exclaimed Jumbo; "dat am de pussonage who peeked frough dem bushes las' night. I thought I knowed him. Dat's Black Bart, the sun-shiner."

The party at the cliff summit turned and vanished. Apparently they had a camp up there from which they had observed every movement of the Boy Scout party. It was plain enough now, since Jumbo's recognition, how they came to be there. Black Bart must have overheard the major discussing the plan the night before. By making a forced march by night the rascals had arrived ahead of the rightful searchers for the old buccaneer's h.o.a.rd.

"We'd better get back toward the boats before they take a notion to investigate," said Tubby. "I don't fancy sticking around here much longer."

"Nor I," said Hiram; "come on."

"Golly knows ah'm willin'," breathed Jumbo.

Snugly hidden in the thick growth into which the canoes had been dragged, the two Scouts and the negro discussed the situation. It was a desperate one. For the present, at least, Hunt and his party dominated it. One unpleasant thought, too, kept obtruding itself. The party in the cave had no water.

"And Hunt says he won't blast it open for two days, anyhow," put in Hiram; "I suppose he figures that the major would be too weak to oppose him then."

"Guess that's it. What a rascal that Hunt is! But what are we going to do to help them? We can't move that rock, and we've got nothing to blast it away with."

Tubby's face showed the dismay, the almost despair, that he felt.

"Tell you what, Hiram," he said at length, "you'll have to take one of the canoes and get off down the lake. When you reach the foot of it make a dash to the westward, where there is a village. I'll wait here with Jumbo till you return."

"But it will take two days, at least, maybe a week," objected Hiram.

"Can't be helped. We've got to do something. You are lighter and can travel quicker than I. Take food and a rifle and get through as quick as you can."

Ten minutes later the red canoe, well stocked with food, and paddled by the young Scout, shot out from the sh.o.r.e. By hugging the rim of the lake the boys had figured that he would be able to undertake the first stage of his journey without running much risk of being seen by their enemies.

Besides, it was unlikely that Hunt or his cronies would be keeping a very keen lookout as they evidently believed that all the party was imprisoned in the cave.

Tubby and Jumbo watched the canoe while it remained in sight, and then returned to their hiding place. Toward the middle of the afternoon they saw smoke on the cliff top and well back from the edge.

"At any rate," thought Tubby, "they are camped at a good distance back from us. I reckon there's no danger of their seeing us moving about."