e to a place
where walking became uncertain and dangerous. Songbird went into one
hole up to his waist and poor Hans disappeared entirely.

"Hellup! hellup!" roared the German boy. "Bull me owid, somepody!"

Aleck was close at hand, and reaching down into the hole he got hold of
Hans' hand. It was a hard pull, but presently Anderson Rover took hold,
too, and between him and the colored man they got the German youth to
the surface. Hans' face and clothing were covered with dust and dirt
and he was scratched in several places.

"I dink I was goin' t'rough to Chiny!" he said. "You pet my life I vos
careful after dis vere I valk, yah!"

"The earthquake seems to have left this part of the isle full of pits
and holes," said Mr. Rover. "I hope my boys have managed to steer clear
of the dangerous places."

They soon found they had to turn back, and now Bahama Bill frankly
declared that he was "all at sea," as he put it.

"Every landmark I knew has been swept away," he said. "All I can say
is, the cave is in that direction," and he pointed with his hand. "But
it may be buried out o' sight now," he added, dismally.

There was nothing to do but to retrace their steps, and this they did
as far as they were able. They had covered about half the distance when
they saw a shaft of light shoot around the tree-tops near them.

"There is that strange light!" cried Songbird.

"Let us find out what it is!" added Fred.

They tried to follow the light and in doing this became hopelessly lost
in the jungle. Then one of the boys struck one of the oil lanterns on a
rock and smashed it, thus doing away with that much of the illumination
they carried.

"We must be careful," said Anderson Rover. "We are making no progress
so far as the treasure is concerned. We had better try to find our way
back to the shore, and try to find my sons." And this was agreed to by
all.

But it was no easy matter to get back to the shore, and an hour later
found them in a tangle of undergrowth. Aleck was ahead, accompanied by
Fred and Songbird.

"Hark! I heah something!" cried the colored man, presently.

"Somebody is calling!" cried Songbird.

"Maybe it's Dick and the others!" added Fred.

They called in return and then they fired off a pistol. There was a
brief silence and then came the call once more.

"Come on, dis way!" yelled Aleck, and plunged through the underbrush
with the boys following. He continued to call and at last made out the
voic