d tar was looking sharply ahead and soon he gave a grunt of
satisfaction.

"What is it?" asked Anderson Rover eagerly.

"I know where I am now," was the reply. "And unless that earthquake
knocked it skyhigh thet cave ought to be right ahead o' us!"

CHAPTER XXVI

A DISMAYING DISCOVERY

The announcement that the treasure cave must be just ahead of them
filled the entire party with renewed energy, and regardless of the
rain, which was now coming down heavily, they pushed on behind Bahama
Bill in a close bunch, each eager to be the first to behold the
sought-for spot.

[Illustration: THEY PUSHED ON BEHIND BAHAMA BILL.]

There was no longer any trail, and they had to pick their way over
rough rocks and through brushwood and vines which were thick regardless
of the fact that they had little or no rooting places.

"I guess we've got to earn that treasure if we get it," said Sam, as he
paused to get his breath.

"It certainly looks that way," answered Dick, as he wiped the rain and
perspiration from his face. "I wonder how much further we have to go?"

That question was answered almost immediately, for Bahama Bill, turning
the corner of several extra large rocks, came to a halt with a grunt of
dissatisfaction.

"Well, what now?" questioned Anderson Rover.

"It's gone!"

"What, the cave?" asked several.

"Yes--she's gone, swallowed up, busted!" answered the old tar. "Thet
air earthquake done it an' no error," he went on. "It jest shook thet
pile o' rock wot made the cave into a heap, and there's the heap."

Bahama Bill pointed in front of him, where a large quantity of rocks
lay in a scattered mass, many of them ten and twenty tons in weight. At
one point was what he said had been the entrance to the cave, but this
was completely blocked by the stones.

"Vot's der madder, can't ve get in?" queried Hans, with a look of real
concern on his honest face.

"That doesn't look like it," answered Fred. "Too bad, and after coming
so far for this treasure, too!"

"We must get in there somehow!" cried Dick.

"Why can't we blow up the rocks with dynamite," suggested Tom.

"We can--but it will take time," said his father. He turned to Bahama
Bill. "About how far into the cave was the treasure placed?"

"Oh, at least a hundred feet--maybe two hundred."

Anderson Rover heaved a deep sigh, which was echoed by his sons. To get
down into that mass of rocks a distance of from one to two hundred feet
would sure