CHAPTER XXIV.
AN ENCOUNTER IN THE DARK.
A little while later the Baxters reached the cave where Tom and Sam hadbeen held prisoners.
The sailor who had been left bound had long since been released, so theplace was deserted.
"Look out for snakes," said Dan. "We had better light torches."
This was done, for it was now dark under the trees.
Hiding in a thicket, Dick and Peterson saw the Baxters enter the cave.The pair remained inside for fully quarter of an hour, and came outlooking much disappointed.
With torches close to the ground they searched for Sam and Tom's trail.
"Here are footprints!" exclaimed Arnold Baxter, at last. "They are notmade by men, either."
"They must be the boys'," answered Dan. "Come on, let us follow."
"It is very dark, Dan. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until morning."
Nevertheless, the pair passed on, and again Dick and Peterson camebehind.
Hardly three rods had been passed when Dan Baxter let out a cry as somesmall wild animal dashed across the trail. The bully turned to run, anddiscovered Dick ere the latter could hide.
"Dick Rover!" he gasped.
"Rover!" cried Arnold Baxter. "What are you talking about, Dan?"
"Here is Dick Rover! And that lumber fellow is with him."
"Impossible! Why, Rover, where did you come from?" And Arnold Baxtercame up, hardly believing his eyes.
"We were following you, Arnold Baxter," answered Dick quietly.
"For what?"
"To see what you were going to do next?"
"Have you found Sam and Tom?" questioned Dan quickly.
"Dan, be still!" thundered his father. "You are always putting yourfoot into it."
"I reckon you chaps are fairly caught," put in Luke Peterson.
"Caught?" came from both, in a breath.
"Yes, caught," said Dick. "We did not follow you for nothing."
"Perhaps you are the ones who are caught," said Arnold Baxter, with asickly smile.
"Hardly," and Dick showed his pistol. "We are well armed, ArnoldBaxter, and will stand no fooling."
"We are armed, too--" began Dan, but his parent stopped him.
"Of course you came to this island on a boat of some sort," went on theelder Baxter.
"How else could we come? The mainland is miles away."
"Where is your boat?"
"Not far off, and well manned, too," added Dick. "We came not alone tocapture you, but also the _Peacock_ and all on board."
At this announcement the faces of the Baxters fell, and Dan actuallytrembled.
"Where is your boat?" repeated Arnold Baxter.
"As I just told you, not far off. The question is, will you submitquietly, or must I summon help?"
"Submit to what?"
"Submit to being taken to our boat."
"You have no right to make me go to your boat."
"I'll be hanged if I'll go," growled Dan.
"And you may be shot if you don't go," answered Dick significantly. "Iknow you well, and I shall take no further chances with you. Now willyou go or not?"
"I suppose, if we don't go, you'll bring some officers here to compelus to do as you wish."
"Exactly."
"You may as well give in," said Peterson. "This island is not large,and even if you try to run away you'll be found, sooner or later. The_Peacock_ is probably already captured, and those on our boat willsee that no other boat comes near here until we have you safe on board.The jig is up."
"I won't give in!" cried Arnold Baxter. "Come, Dan!" He caught his sonby the arm, and both turned and sped into the nearest brush.
It was dark, the torches having died low, and before Dick could shoot,even if he wished to do so, the pair of rascals were out of sight.
"Stop!" said Dick to Peterson, who was for following them up. "We cando nothing in the darkness. Let them go. To-morrow is another day. Letus return to the _Rocket_ and take steps to capture the _Peacock_."
"Yes, and we must get back to Larry," said the lumberman.
It was no easy matter to find their way back to the treasure cave, andthey missed the direction half a dozen times. When they did get back itwas so gloomy in the bushes that they had to call out to Larry, inorder to locate him.
"Gracious! I was afraid you would never come back," said the youth.
"We've had quite an adventure," replied Dick, and related theparticulars.
Larry's ankle was somewhat better, and by leaning on both Dick andPeterson he managed to hobble along to where the _Rocket's_ smallboat had landed them.
The steam tug was close at hand, and they were soon on board.
"Is the screw repaired?" was Dick's first question.
"Not quite, but it will be inside of half an hour," answered JackParsons.
"Have you seen anything of the _Peacock_? She is sailing aroundthe island."
"No, haven't seen any sail since you left. We--"
A cry from the lookout interrupted the captain.
"Here comes the _Peacock_!"
The report was true, and all crowded forward to catch sight of theschooner in the darkness.
The stars made it fairly light on the water and, as the schooner cameup close to the steam tug, Dick made out several figures on board.
"Ahoy, what tug is that?" came from the schooner.
"The _Rocket_" answered Parsons. "What schooner is that?"
To this there was no answer.
"What are you doing here?" asked Captain Langless instead.
"We are in trouble," returned Parsons, after whispering with Dick.
"What's up?"
"We've had a breakdown."
"Seen anybody from the island?"
"Why, we thought this island was deserted."
"So it is."
"Come up closer and give us a lift."
"Can't, we are behind time now."
Then, without warning, a Bengal light was lit on board of the schooner.A large reflector was placed behind the light, which was thus cast onthe deck of the _Rocket_. At once Dick, Peterson, and the otherswere exposed to the gaze of Captain Langless.
"Ha! I suspected as much!" roared the master of the schooner. "Sheeroff, Wimble, or the game is up!"
The helm of the _Peacock_ was at once thrown over, and she beganto move off. A stiff breeze caused her to make rapid progress.
"Stop!" cried Dick. "Stop, or we will fire on you!"
He had scarcely spoken when the report of a pistol rang out and abullet cut through the air over his head.
"Let that be a warning to you to leave us alone!" cried CaptainLangless.
Then the schooner increased her speed, the flare from the Bengal lightdied out, and soon the _Peacock_ was lost to view in the darkness.