The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle Part 46

"Yes, and yonder is another vessel," returned Sam, as he pointed the gla.s.s in the direction. "That must be the _Josephine_." And then the two youths shouted the news to those below.

After that the boys watched the progress of the steam yacht with interest, keeping those below informed of all that was going on. They saw the _Rainbow_ draw closer to the other vessel, and saw the small boat leave the steam yacht.

"Four men are rowing to the other vessel," announced Tom. "We can't make out who they are."

They saw the four men board the other vessel and disappear, presumably into the cabin. Then came a wait of over half an hour.

"This is getting tiresome," said Tom.

"You can go below if you want to," answered d.i.c.k, who had come up, followed by Songbird.

Tom descended to the ground and Sam followed him. They had just done this when there came a cry from d.i.c.k:

"Two boats are putting off from that other vessel! Each of them is filled with men!"

"Are they coming ash.o.r.e or going to my yacht?" demanded Captain Barforth.

"They are heading for the yacht!"

"They intend to capture the _Rainbow_!" groaned Mr. Rover. "Oh, if only we were on board!"

In his anxiety to see what was being done, he climbed the tree and so did the captain. Then the others came up, the tree being large and strong even at the top and capable of holding a good weight.

"If those rascals try to take my vessel I'll have them all hung!"

roared Captain Barforth, and trembled with rage. "Oh, if only I was on board!" And he clenched his fists.

"Look! look!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed d.i.c.k, who had the spygla.s.s. "I think--yes, the _Rainbow_ is moving!"

"Moving!" came from the others.

"Yes, and she is turning away from the other vessel and from those in the rowboats!"

"Let me see," said the captain and took the spygla.s.s. "You are right, d.i.c.k. The _Rainbow_ is running away from them!"

The news was true, the steam yacht was indeed running away from the _Josephine_ and from those in the rowboats who had set out to take possession of her. It was a time of great excitement.

"The rowboats are getting close to the _Rainbow_," said Tom, who had taken the gla.s.s. "The yacht doesn't seem to have much steam up."

"Perhaps the fires were banked when Carey left," suggested the captain.

"Maybe they were put out, so the vessel couldn't move."

The steam yacht was moving slowly and those in the two rowboats were making every effort to catch up to her. Then the black smoke began to pour from the funnel of the _Josephine_.

"The other vessel is getting up steam," said Mr. Rover. "She may catch the _Rainbow_ even if those in the rowboats do not."

Closer and closer to the steam yacht drew the two rowboats, until it looked as if the _Rainbow_ would surely be boarded by the enemy.

Then of a sudden there came a cloud of smoke from the deck of the steam yacht, followed by a stream of sparks which went whizzing just over the rowboats. Then followed more sparks, and b.a.l.l.s of fire, red, white and blue.

"What in the world are they doing?" murmured Captain Barforth.

"They are shooting off something, but it is not a gun or a cannon,"

answered Mr. Rover.

"Hurrah! I know what it is!" cried Tom. "Good for Fred and Hans! Those are my fireworks--those I had left from the Fourth of July celebration.

They are giving them a dose of rockets and Roman candles!"

This news was true, and as the rockets and Roman candles. .h.i.t the rowboats and the occupants the latter stopped rowing and then began to back water in confusion. Soon the rowboats turned back and hastened to the side of the _Josephine_.

"That's what I call repelling boarders!" said Captain Barforth, grimly.

"I only hope the fireworks hold out."

"It is now to be a race between the _Rainbow_ and that other craft," observed Mr. Rover, and he was right. Inside of fifteen minutes both vessels were headed out to sea, and running at about the same rate of speed. Soon the haze over the water hid both craft from view.

"Well, one thing is certain," said Mr. Rover. "Our friends are alive to their danger and are going to do their best to get away from the enemy."

"And another thing is that we are left marooned on this isle," said the captain.

The party remained in the tree a while longer, and then, as there seemed nothing else to do, they descended to the ground.

"Well, we have one thing in our favor," was d.i.c.k's comment. "Sid Merrick and his crowd must be on the _Josephine_, or they wouldn't chase the _Rainbow_, and that being so they can't interrupt our treasure hunt, at least for the present."

"But if they capture our steam yacht how are we to get away from here, even if we do uncover the treasure?" said Sam.

"We'll get away somehow--and make it good and hot for them in the bargain," answered Tom, and his father nodded in approval.

With their thoughts on the _Rainbow_ and those on board, the treasure hunters went back to the vicinity of the shattered cave.

n.o.body felt much like working, yet to remain idle made the time hang heavily on their hands.

"There is no use of our going to work in a haphazard fas.h.i.+on," were Mr.

Rover's words. "We must first go over the ground carefully and plan out just what is best to do. Otherwise a good portion of our energies will be wasted."

This was sound advice and was followed out. They surveyed the whole vicinity with care, poking in among the rocks with long sticks, and turning over such as were loose and easily moved.

"This looks as if it was going to be a long-winded job," was Sam's comment, and he heaved a sigh. "I thought we'd come here, march into the cave, and put our hands right on the gold and diamonds!"

d.i.c.k was a short distance away, poking into a hole with a stick. The stick was over eight feet long, but the end did not appear to touch anything.

"There is some kind of a hollow below here," he said to the others. "I think we ought to investigate and see how large it is."

The others agreed with him, and all set to work to pull aside half a dozen rocks which were in the way. They had to use all their strength and even then the largest of the stones refused to budge.

"Let us get a small tree and use it for a pry," suggested Mr. Rover.

They had an ax with them, and Tom cut down the tree and trimmed it.

Then, resting the log on one stone, they inserted the end under the big rock and pressed down with all their might.

"She's coming!" shouted Sam, as the big stone commenced to move.