declared Anderson Rover.
"Should that be Merrick's crowd and they meet my sons there will surely
be trouble!"

"Let us go ashore without delay!" said Songbird, who was sorry he had
not accompanied the Rover boys.

"That's what I say!" added Fred. "We can take plenty of lights."

"I vos not von pit sleepy," declared Hans. "I go kvick, of you said so,
Mr. Rofer."

"If yo' go, don't forgit Aleck!" pleaded the colored man.

"You shall go, Aleck," answered Mr. Rover, who knew he could depend
upon the colored man in any emergency.

"I hope you find Dick, and Tom and Sam," said Dora. "It was foolish for
them to go off alone."

"And don't let Merrick hurt anybody," pleaded Nellie.

It was quickly decided that the party to go ashore should be composed
of Mr. Rover, Bahama Bill, Aleck, and the three boys. Nearly everybody
went armed, and the party carried with them a small electric
searchlight, run by a "pocket" battery, and two oil lanterns. They also
took with them some provisions, and a pick, a shovel and a crowbar, for
Bahama Bill said there might be some digging to do to get at the
treasure.

Had it not been for the small searchlight it would have been next to
impossible to find the opening through the reef during the night. But
the light was all that was needed, and they came through with little
more than a shower of spray touching them. Bahama Bill and Mr. Rover
rowed the boat and soon brought the craft to a point where they
disembarked without difficulty.

"The boys did not land here," said Anderson Rover, after a look along
the sandy shore for footprints. "But they must have come in somewhere
around here."

"Let's call for them," suggested Songbird, and this was done, but no
reply came back.

"They have started on the hunt for the cave, just as I supposed they
would," said Mr. Rover.

"Den let us git aftah dem directly," said Aleck. "I feels like I could
tramp all night widout half tryin'!"

Tying up the rowboat, and shouldering their tools and provisions, they
set off along the shore of Horseshoe Bay, just as the three Rover boys
had done. Bahama Bill led the way, with Mr. Rover beside him, carrying
the electric light, which gave out fully as much light as did the
acetylene gas lamp carried by Merrick.

"Here are some footprints!" cried Mr. Rover, after a short distance had
been covered.

"Dem was made by our boys!" cried Aleck, after a minute examination. "I
know dem shoes, fo' I has shined 'em