which gave it
the color of death and the shroud of a sepulcher.

Not a word was spoken. They moved from place to place and touched the
objects. What appeared to have some resemblance of a rigid form fell
away, just as they had seen it in the other portion of the cave. What
surprised them most was the entire absence of any firearms, although
they remembered that the Professor had said the other portions of the
cave would show that the pirates had plenty of guns.

This incited them to further search. Could it be possible that the
Professor had not seen this part of the cave? Their own tracks could be
made out in the soft stalagmites on the floor, and retracing their steps
to the center of the chamber, they searched back and forth to determine
whether or not he had visited this portion.

Nothing was found to satisfy them on this point, but, passing on beyond
the first recess entered, they were amazed to find a second grottoed
recess, similar to the first, but much longer, and here, with merely a
wall separating them from the other recess, was an orgy of bones and
weapons.

It was such an unlooked-for sight that they almost staggered at the
scene. At one side was a row of chests, fully six feet long, all white
and crumbling, and these were filled with the long Spanish guns of which
they had several specimens.

Here everything was in confusion. The final act in the drama enacted
here, whether before or after the battle in the other chamber, bore
evidences of annihilation. Here were skeletons, locked in their dying
embraces, still grasping cutlasses with which they closed the act. But
what interested them more than anything else were four skeletons,
reclining on a raised portion, with chains on wrists and ankles, which
looked like a mockery in their surroundings.

The captives had taken no part in the struggles. Were they being
defended? and who were the captors? The boys had no time to consider
these things. Other matters attracted them. The nook close by was a
veritable arsenal. It contained chests which, undoubtedly, were filled
with gold. The sights, their surroundings, the evidences of untold
treasure everywhere were enough to unnerve them for the time, and
George, with a voice almost hoarse, suggested that it would be well to
return. It was some time before they could make their way back to the
entrance, and when it was reached, they sat down, not knowing what to
say or what interpretation to put on the last disc