k?" cried Dora eagerly.

"Not so very much as yet," he answered, soberly, for he hated to
disappoint the girl who was so dear to him. And then he told her of
all that had happened. She shuddered when she found he had been a
prisoner of Sid Merrick and his followers.

"Oh, Dick, I am so thankful you escaped," she cried, with tears in her
eyes. "You must not get into such a situation again! Why, the whole
treasure isn't worth it."

"But I want to get that money and the jewels for you, Dora."

"Yes, but I don't want money and jewels if--if you are--are going
to get hurt," she answered, and her deep eyes looked him through and
through.

"I'll be careful after this--but we are going to get the treasure,
sure thing," he added, stoutly.

"I was afraid an earthquake might have played pranks with that cave,"
was Captain Barforth's comment. "An earthquake can shake down the top
of a cave quicker than it can shake down anything else. It doesn't
take much to do it."

The captain said he had a fair quantity of powder on board, to be used
in the cannon for saluting and signalling. If they wanted dynamite,
however, he'd have to run over to one of the big islands for it.

"And then we may have trouble getting it," he added. "We'd probably
have to buy up the supply of some contractor who happened to have it
on hand."

"I don't like to think of leaving the island while Merrick and his
crowd are around," answered Anderson Rover.

On the following morning Mr. Rover and Captain Barforth went ashore,
taking Dick, Tom and Sam along. The steam yacht was left in charge of
Asa Carey, and the mate was told to remain close to the mouth of the
reef and to send some of the others ashore armed if there came a
signal of distress.

"We have enemies on this isle," said Captain Barforth. "And they may
try to do us harm."

"I'll watch out," answered the mate, shortly. And then he turned away
with a thoughtful look on his sour countenance. That there was
something on his mind was evident.

The small boat was brought ashore at the point where the path led
directly to the sunken cave. Although there was a lively breeze
blowing, those landing did so without mishap. They had with them some
tools for digging, and also a rock drill and some powder.

"It will do no harm to blast one or two of the rocks and see what is
underneath," said Anderson Rover. "We may possibly be lucky enough to
find some entrance into the cave, although I must confess