CHAPTER XVIIIGLEN AND APPLE FIND THE CAVE
As might be expected, the excitement in camp that evening was intense. Chick-chick and Brick Mason were heroes. No one could do too much for them. Even Will Spencer was excited.
"It's a fine thing for you, Glen," he said. "I'm glad you had the chance and that you did so well with it. Mr. Newton says the sheriff will give you and the deputy full credit for the capture of the two fellows that came down with Matt."
"I'm mighty tickled," Glen admitted. "I don't think it'll amount to so very much, though, because there's so many will have to divide the reward."
"Brick, Brick, where did you get that head?" exclaimed Jolly Bill. "I'm not talking about the reward. Can't you see anything better than that?"
"Why, I don't know that I do. I'm afraid I never will be smart."
"Yes, you will. You're getting too much forme already. But, don't you see, old brick head, how much better chance this gives you to get your discharge from the reform school? 'Single-handed, he engaged in a terrific conflict with two desperadoes and delivered them into the hands of the officers of the law.' How does that sound? You begin to see where you get off?"
"Maybe so. All I did was to hold the horses, but I'll be glad of any credit that comes to me. I expected we'd hear from the school before now."
"Don't you fear but what you'll hear quick enough. Your friend who was here last Sunday is looking after your interests or they'd have yanked you back before now. I only hope they let you stay another week or two so you'll do me some good."
"I surely hope they do," said Glen. "I'm having such a fine time I wish it would go on forever. You think you'll get along all right while I go up the Mound to-night?"
"I'll be all right. Bob and I will keep the camp from running away. Maybe it'll rain again, like it did when you tried it Sunday night. You'll be mighty glad to get back to us if it does."
"No, we're going to stick it out to-night whatever happens," said Glen. "The fellows are going to take their ponchos and stay all nightwhatever the weather. Going clear to the top of Buffalo Mound. I'm going with Apple and he has a waterproof sleeping bag big enough for two. We're going to have a great time. I tell you, Will, this camp life with people like Apple and the scoutmaster and you is more like heaven than anything I ever dreamed of."
A great deal of satisfaction and joy had come into Glen Mason's life in the last few days. He felt it in the companionship of Apple and Chick-chick as they marched up Buffalo Mound together that night, carrying their firewood and blankets for the bivouac. There was a new bond of fellowship between them, a bond which Glen would have found it quite impossible to state in words but which was none the less genuine and fixed. The little service at the camp-fire meant more to him than anything he had ever experienced; he had really started his journey, he was definitely lined up with God's people, he had enlisted for actual service. In the few quiet minutes while he lay wrapped in his blanket waiting for sleep to come, and meanwhile looking up at the starry vault which seemed to him to represent God's heaven, he experienced the greatest peace that had ever come into his life.
Only hardened campaigners and boys can sleepthe dreamless sleep of nature next to mother earth, with no soft mattress to pad the irregular outlines of bony prominences, and even boys are apt to waken earlier than common. So it is no wonder that daybreak found Glen and Apple glad to shake themselves free from their blankets and climb the few feet necessary to get the best of the justly celebrated view from Buffalo Mound. Miles and miles over the flat prairie country could they see in the clear morning air, and with the assistance of Mr. Newton's field glass they could draw far away objects very near to their field of vision. It was interesting to see the little towns, each with its two or three church spires, its one or two large buildings and its collection of dwellings; to see eight towns in six different counties from the same spot was an exciting experience for these boys.
But they did not get their real excitement until they turned their glass down the west side of the Mound, and there came in the range of their vision an Indian engaged in some mysterious occupation on the bank of Buffalo Creek.
"He's at the Ice Box," declared Apple. "Now what do you suppose that Indian's doing? Look at him dive."
"How can he stay under so long?" asked Glen,after they had watched two or three minutes without seeing a head appear.
"I can't tell you. Maybe he swam under water and has come up in some other place that we can't see."
But fully ten minutes later, while they still watched in great curiosity, his head came into sight at about the place where he had dived in, and a moment later they saw him draw his glistening body out of the water.
"Where's he been?" said Apple. "He hasn't been under water all that time."
"But neither did he come up anywhere that I could see," said Glen. "I know what's happened," he added in an excited tone. "He's been in the cave."
"I believe you," said Apple. "We guessed right. Ice Box and Deep Springs mean the same place. I don't know about any Twin Elms but that cave is there, at the Ice Box. I don't know why we never saw it, unless because it's on the far bank and we always looked this side."
"Maybe its entrance is under water," suggested Glen. "That Indian dived, you see, and we didn't see a sign of him again until he came back."
"That's the way of it, Glen. And that's the same Indian told us to look for heap rock. Ibelieve—" it was the romantic side of Apple now appearing—"I believe he is the tribal guardian of the treasure and he stays around here to guard it from our search."
"Maybe so," agreed Glen. "Anyway if the treasure's there we'll soon know it. You think you can keep in your head the exact location where he dived?"
"Yes. It's just at the bend of the Ice Box. Right opposite on the other bank are those two old stumps—"
"Hold on," shouted Glen excitedly, seized with a great idea. "I'll bet you those are the stumps of elm trees—the Twin Elms."
"You're right, Glen. I'm sure you're right. I can hardly wait to find out."
"We don't want all the camp following us into this. When will be the best time to hunt for it?"
"What's the matter with right now?" suggested Apple. "It's only a little after five. Breakfast won't be called until eight. Father won't care where we go so long as we get to camp in time for breakfast."
"But the Indian! What will he be doing while we explore his cave?"
"He won't be there. He hiked through thetimber, and he's less likely to be there now than he would be later on in the day."
"It's all right with me," declared Glen. "Now's as good as any time. We'll get our blankets and tell your father we will be at camp in time for breakfast."
When a couple of boys have a great secret which they have just discovered they are likely to overdo the secrecy of it. Glen and Apple made a wide detour through the fields and when they at last approached the Ice Box it was from an entirely different angle. Taking warning from the exposure of the Indian they took off their clothes in the shelter of some bushes and made a quick rush into the water.
"Be careful, now," warned Apple. "It's cold as ice and swift as the rapids. Must be some big springs around here."
But Glen was always at home in the water and needed no warning.
"Here it is, I'll bet," he cried. "Just under the ledge, you see. The opening's only about two feet wide and the space above water to the ledge isn't more than a foot and a half. That's why it's all covered up when the water's high. Come on. Let me go first."
Once inside this narrow passage they wereindeed in a cave. For a few feet around the small opening daylight shone dimly in, but it was lost in impenetrable gloom above and to the rear. A mass of something dense loomed in front of them and Apple swimming boldly up declared, it to be a pile of stone.
"It's the heap stone the Indian spoke about, Brick," he shouted. "We've sure found it. Let's go back and get some lanterns and things."
Out in the broad light of day the romance did not seem quite so absolutely sure, and the nearer they drew to the camp the less positive did they become about their discovery.
"We wouldn't like the camp to have the laugh on us like they did on Matt," admitted Apple. "I guess we'd better make sure before we have very much to say about it."
"I reckon we had," Glen agreed. "We can keep it to ourselves for awhile without anybody carrying it away. That Indian couldn't carry it very far by himself. Once we are sure, then we can tell the whole camp. Wish we could find Chick-chick. We could tell him right now."
It was a hard thing to be discreetly silent until their opportunity for thorough search came, and fortunate that they had not long to wait. That very afternoon it rained and most of the boys stayed in camp. Chick-chick was still away on some mysterious errand. Glen and Apple appeared clad in bathing suits and tennis shoes.
With the lighted lanterns they could get a better idea of their surroundings. Page 211With the lighted lanterns they could get a better idea of their surroundings. Page 211
"We don't mind the rain," Apple announced. "We are going out. Look for us when you see us."
They had already cached a couple of lanterns, a pick and two spades near the Ice Box and it was no trick at all to get them into the cave. With the lighted lanterns they could get a better idea of their surroundings. The floor of the cave was waist deep in water which seemed to rush on in a swift current and escape again into the creek through a counter opening a few feet away. The cave was quite long. It did not, as they supposed, have its beginning at the opening where they entered, but extended some distance back into the gloom, and as the current was quite swift back there it was evident that there were other hidden openings. The vault of the cave was high, so high that they could not see the top by the feeble light of their lanterns. But the thing that they could see and that thrust from their minds every other subject was a solid arch of masonry.
"I was right!" shouted Apple. "I was right! That's no natural formation. That has beenbuilt up by men's hands years ago. It's sure to be the hiding place of the treasure. What else could it be?"
"It couldn't be anything else," agreed Glen. "We'll mighty soon see. Get up to the top and I'll hand you the things."
"I'm up," said Apple. "Are you coming too?"
"Sure thing. The way to tear this down is a stone at a time beginning at the top."
"Let me have the pick, then."
"No, you hold the lantern and let me use the pick. I'm the biggest."
Splash! The first big stone disappeared in the water. Another splash and the second followed. But prying them loose was no easy job and they did not follow one after the other in the rapid succession the boys would have liked. In less than half an hour they decided that an enormous lot of work had been done in the effort to bury the treasure.
"We think this is pretty hard work getting these stones loose and pitching 'em down in the water," said Apple, reflectively, "but think of carrying all of 'em in from outside to build this."
"Perhaps there were more than two to do it," said Glen.
"Of course there were," said the more romanticApple, his imagination stirred by the picture. "There was a small army of them. I can imagine I see them coming in here in a long procession each carrying his load, giving way to the next, and slipping away quietly in the gloom."
"Perhaps they didn't do that way at all," said Glen, the practical. "If you swing your lantern away up you can see that this cave has high ledges running away back. Perhaps they managed to get rock from some of those ledges."
"Perhaps they did. But it was hard work, anyway, and it's hard work breaking it up. But if we can just manage to do this just by our two selves, and then go back to the fellows and tell 'em we've found the treasure—"
"Say, that will be fine," agreed Glen.
Suddenly there was a splash at the entrance. "Hush!" said Glen. "Somebody's coming."
"It's the Indian!" he whispered, a sudden terror seizing him.
"Worse than that!" said Apple, as he saw the figure that minute outlined against the entrance. "Worse than that!" he repeated with a severity unusual in his gentle speech. "It's Matt Burton!"
CHAPTER XIXBURIED IN THE CAVE
The two boys looked suspiciously at Matt as he advanced, but neither words of cheer nor resentment came to their Lips. A few days ago Glen's greeting would have been quick and stinging. His silence spoke well for the first lessons of self-control. Apple felt so keenly Matt's injustice to Glen that the cordiality which was his natural offering to good and bad alike was completely choked.
But another splash caused all three to turn their looks again to the entrance and in a moment another head bobbed in sight. It was Chick-chick this time.
"'Lo, fellers!" he called out cheerfully. "D'ye know it's rainin' in solid sheets outside. Jest had to get in out of it. Old Matt, he's follerin' you. I's follerin' Matt. He dived. I dived. 'Tain't much drier in here than outside but anyway ye don't need umbrellas. Mighty little bit of openin' ye came through there. Skinned me elbow, I did."
"Come up here, Chick-chick," invited Apple. "We can use you. It's dry up here. And I don't know why you came, Matt, but since you're here you might as well help, too."
"I came to see what you were doing," said Matt. "I knew you didn't go out of camp in your bathing suits just for nothing and anyway I wanted to see if I could track you."
"Didn't bring your bread-box 'long, did ye, Matt?" asked Chick-chick innocently.
"Maybe I'd have better luck finding things if I was a confederate of those that hid them."
Was Matt trying to intimate that Glen had found the cave because of some confederacy with the Jervice gang? Glen felt his anger rising.
"That's enough of that," said Apple. "If you fellows want to help you can take turns one on top and one in the water. Come on up, Chick-chick."
With four pairs of hands they made quicker progress. Both the additional workers were strong and active, and Matt especially was urged on by the desire to show that he could do as much or a little more than any one else. Suddenly he stopped in his work and looked about in evident perplexity.
"What's the matter?" asked Apple. "Toomuch cold water? Maybe you'd better get out of it for awhile."
"Yes, there's too much of it, and it's too cold too. But what's bothering me is why there's so much. It was up to my waist when I began work. Then I threw down a big rock a foot high and stood on it and now it's more than waist high again. It must be rising."
"I thought we were getting this pile pulled down awfully quick," said Glen. "That's what's made it. The water has risen up to cover it."
Chick-chick straightened himself up and looked around in the gloom. Then he lifted the lantern by the light of which he had been working and swung it far over his head.
"Where's the opening we came in at?" he shouted.
They all looked in the direction where they expected it to be but not even the faintest glimmer of daylight shone in to tell of an opening.
"Do you suppose we've worked away here so long that it has got to be dark without our knowing it?" asked Apple.
"No. 'Tisn't more'n an hour since Matt and I invited ourselves in," objected Chick-chick. "Wasn't much past four then."
"It's the rising water," said Matt. "I wasso busy and it came up so gradually I didn't notice it. The creek must be rising from the heavy rain."
"Another thing is we've thrown so much rock and rubbish down there that we've probably choked up that outlet below. There's no sign of it now," observed Glen.
"Say, fellers, I'm gettin' homesick," said Chick-chick. "Let's get out o' here."
"All right for me, Chick-chick," said Apple. "I'm not much of a swimmer in the dark. You lead the way."
"Not for Chick-chick. I'm no water-witch nor a pathfinder, I ain't. 'Twouldn't do for humble bug-hunter to take such honor. Let Matt and Brick draw straws for it."
"I'm willing to try it," Glen volunteered.
"I'm not afraid of it," said Matt, his natural bravery pushing him to the front at such a crisis. "Let me try."
"I hold big rock in one hand an' little rock in t'other. Fellow that guesses big rock goes," said Chick-chick.
"Right!" said Matt.
"An' Brick guesses left," said Chick-chick for Glen. "Matt gets the try."
Matt waited for no counsel.
"I know just about where the opening lies," he said, stepping on the pile of masonry. "I'll dive clear through the passage."
With a quick spring he disappeared beneath the turbid water.
The boys waited an anxious minute, swinging their lanterns far out over the current. Suddenly Glen thrust the lantern he held into Apple's hand and made a quick jump into the swirl of waters. He was up in a moment with a heavy burden.
"It's Matt!" he cried. "I saw his hand sticking out of the water and jumped for it. He's hurt himself."
The boys were down by his side in a moment, Apple holding a lantern high above his head.
"We must get him up on one of those ledges," said Glen. "He's breathing, but he isn't conscious."
It would have been a hard task under ordinary circumstances, but in their excitement the three scouts made light work of it. One ledge shelved down toward the water making their ascent easier, and from there they managed to lift the injured boy still higher, well out of reach of the water.
Blood was pouring persistently from a woundin the scalp, but with his knowledge of "first aid" Apple was able to stop this quickly by making pressure. They had no bandage material of any description but they took turns in making pressure with their fingers until the blood seemed inclined no longer to flow and the wound showed a tendency to be covered by a firm clot. Matt came to himself for a few minutes, spoke a few half-conscious words and then drifted off again into quiet; but this time it seemed more like the quiet of sleep so they made no effort to disturb him.
"He must have hit his head against something pretty sharp when he dived," said Glen. "I'll go more carefully and just swim gently along the side where the opening ought to be and reach out with my hands for it."
But while they were attending Matt the water had made a very appreciable rise. It would scarcely be possible to feel along the edges now. The water was too high.
"I'll have to swim under water, fellows," said Glen.
"Don't ye do it, Brick," advised Chick-chick. "You don't want to chance Apple and me having to make another rescue, with Matt on our hands already."
"You won't have to make any rescue. I'll swim easily and feel well in front of me."
"I don't like you to try it," said Apple. "We'd be in an awful fix if anything happened to you. There's no danger of the water coming up on these ledges, and it's bound to go down when the rain is over and the creek drops."
"Cheerful lookout, waiting here for that," said Glen. "The folks at the camp will go crazy if we don't show up by night. I've got to get out to carry the news and get help for Matt."
He jumped into the water without further argument and soon they could dimly see him feeling his way along the edge of the cave. It seemed a terribly long time before he came back.
"Haven't found it yet," he said with an attempt at cheer. "It seems as if it ought to be easy enough to find a two foot opening but the top shelves down pretty sharp just there and the opening is now probably five or six feet from the surface. It's mighty discouraging to swim around under there and not find anything. I must rest up a bit."
"Why are you putting that light out, Chick-chick?" asked Apple.
"We c'n see jest's well with one as two, an'I've an idea we may need it wuss later on," replied Chick-chick, significantly.
"You're not getting scared, Chick-chick?" said Glen.
"No, I'm not gettin' scared. I'm just tryin' to use me thinker a bit. We got a boy here that may need 'tention. Won't do to be without light. You fellers got any matches?"
"Yes, I have some," said Apple. "I've kept 'em dry, too."
"All right, then. If Brick has to quit experimentin' in the water without findin' anything, we'll put out t'other light, too, an' just use 'em when we need 'em. This water's goin' to go down sooner or later, but while we have to wait a light when we need it will be awfully handy."
"I'm not through, yet," said Glen. "As soon as I find that opening I'll run to camp and get a rope, and we'll have you fellows out in no time. I've got marks outside to show me how to get back in all right."
Glen stayed away longer the next time, but he came back, shivering and exhausted.
"I'm afraid it's no good for awhile, fellows," he admitted. "Once I thought I had it but a big log barred the way. Then I thought I'd feelwhere the current rushed in strongest and try there, but it's strong everywhere."
Just then Matt stirred and tried to rise but was held back by Apple.
"My head aches!" he murmured. "I can't find it."
"All right, Matty, old boy. You did your best. Lie back and go to sleep."
"I've slept enough," he declared. "What's the matter? Didn't we get out of that cave?"
"No. But it's all right. We'll get out after awhile. You just lie back."
"I'm all right now. Let me up. I remember diving and that's all. Who pulled me out of the water?"
"It was Brick, and it's just as good you should know it," said Apple. "He saw your hand waving around and jumped for you."
"It was easy enough," said Glen. "The water was only about shoulder high then."
"I would have done it for you," said Matt. "But I don't know that you had any cause to do it for me. It makes me feel pretty small after I've been such a beastly prig. I'll get even with you some way but I don't know how. Let me try diving for that hole again."
"Too big hole in yer head," objected Chick-chick."The water 'd wash all your brains out. Awful strong current down there."
"Better not stir much," counseled Apple. "There's quite a bad cut you've got on top and we had a time getting the bleeding stopped. If you move about much you're likely to unsettle the clot and start it again. Better lie still."
"But I'm not just going to lie down and die here. I want to get out."
"Easy now, Matt. You don't help us by acting that way and you won't help us if you get your head started again either. Look at that water. Brick's worked in it till he's just about all in. You can't do any better than he."
"Who says I can't?" he cried, bristling at once.
"I'd say you can't if 'twould do any good," replied Chick-chick. "That's no way to act at such time 's this. Ye ain't bein' like a man or a Christian. See, ye've started the blood again and it's trickling down your face. Now lie down."
In the face of such conditions Matt had sense enough to desist from further opposition. He lay down again and soon the bleeding stopped.
"Chick-chick," he said, in subdued tones. "I give you leave to kick me if I act the fool again."
"There wouldn't be any pleasure in it, now," said Chick-chick. "Hold your offer till we get t'camp if ye want t' please me. What I say is let's put all lights out and everybody go to sleep."
"Suppose the water comes up on us," objected Matt.
"It won't. It can't rise much higher'n the creek level an' we're way above it now. Let's go to sleep."
"I can't," Matt still objected.
"What's matter? Head hurt ye?"
"Not so much. And I don't mind it so bad when we're all awake talking, but I'm afraid to have us go to sleep."
"You 'fraid, Brick?"
"No," said Glen. "I'm too tired."
"You 'fraid, Apple?"
"No, I'm scared, but I'm not afraid. But I don't wonder so much at Matt. I know how I'd be if I didn't know God had a firm hold of me, right now. Let's sing a little."
He started a familiar camp song, and from one song they went to another. When they were singing "Where He leads me I will follow" Chick-chick held up his hand.
"Matt's asleep," he whispered. "I'll bet his head's made him 'bout half crazy. Hope he sleeps till morning."
How many hours they slept they could not tell,for there were no timepieces. They would rouse, turn over, and drop asleep again, for each one was determined to sleep away as much of the waiting time as possible. It was probably early morning when at last Glen arose, stretched himself and carefully lighted a lantern.
"It's going down, boys," he announced. "The opening isn't uncovered yet, but it's two or three feet lower than it was last night."
They were all wide awake now, and all leaned over the ledge to form their own opinion.
"The current seems to run differently," said Glen. "It acts as if the rock we threw in has stopped up the old outlet and it was running back of the heap we pulled down instead."
"Yes, sir. Strikes me just that way," said Chick-chick.
"I'm going to take the other lantern and explore a little," said Glen. "You fellows needn't come. I'll holler if I find anything."
He disappeared behind the ruined arch, swimming and wading, but he was back in a minute, all excitement.
"There's a regular passage out this way, fellows. Seems to go clear through the Mound. The water's rushing down in a torrent. Come and see."
They needed no invitation, for they were down before he finished speaking. Around the crumbled masonry he led them, and pointed to an opening like a natural tunnel which, seemed to lead far into the bowels of the earth.
CHAPTER XXTHE TREASURE OF BUFFALO LAKE
The cavernous opening into which the boys swung their lanterns in a vain attempt to penetrate its gloom seemed indeed to lead into the heart of Buffalo Mound. A muddy, turbulent stream was rushing down it at a tremendous rate, but there was room enough left to allow the passage of an agile boy, willing to bend himself double, and the water was not deep enough to be an obstacle.
"It may show us a way out," exclaimed Glen. "I'm bound to see where it goes. Who'll go with me?"
"We'll all go, Brick. You don't leave me behind in this dark cave, you don't," declared Chick-chick.
"How about your head, Matt?" asked Apple.
"It's good enough now," said Matt. "I'm sure going to be along on this."
With Glen in the lead they crept one after another along the narrow passage, Apple bringing up the rear and trailing behind him the cumbersome pick. At a place where the passage widenedout into a roomy vault which gave space for them to stand erect Glen halted the little company and pointed onward to show how the tunnel, leaving this vault, suddenly seemed to narrow so that there was scarcely room for a head above water.
"It's going to be pretty risky here, fellows. I think we'd better go one at a time. I'll crawl as far as I can. If I don't come back while you count a hundred let Chick-chick crawl after me. If I'm stuck or choked he can pull on my feet and pull me back. Then Matt can do the same for him and Apple for him. I'll either get through or be back by the time you count a hundred."
It seemed a long count, and it was hard for them to keep from unseemly hurry. At ninety Chick-chick got down on his knees in the tunnel and as Apple said "One hundred" he disappeared. Matt and Apple counted again and this time it was Matt who disappeared, and Apple was left alone. But he stuck bravely to his counting until another hundred was numbered, then he pushed his pick ahead of him and crawled into the passage, his head scraping the top, his lips scarcely an inch above the swiftly moving water. It seemed a long time before the passage widened,but there were no obstacles, and in a little while he crawled into a larger space where the three dripping boys were waiting for him.
"There's a light away on ahead," announced Glen. "I believe it's daylight."
It was almost a race after that. Nothing was considered in their mad rush, and at every turn the light ahead became clearer until Glen, still in the lead, made a turning and gave a great shout. The next moment all of them could see unmistakable daylight shining through a small opening.
Glen was lying at full length in the stream, trying to enlarge the opening with his hands, when they reached him.
"It's Buffalo Hollow!" he cried. "We've come clear through the Mound. This opening isn't big enough to let any of us in or out, but the water's going out in a good stream now, and soon it will make Buffalo Lake."
Apple's pick was brought into use and with its aid the boys made the opening large enough to scramble through one after the other.
It was scarcely break of day; the sun was just showing signs of rising for his daily task. Oh, how good it felt to be out there in full liberty, able to look around and see all the beautiful thingsof God's creation; how good to be able to stand erect and stretch out every muscle. Apple had scarcely found his feet before he was off at breakneck speed in the direction of the camp.
"He wants his father should know he's safe," explained Chick-chick, as they looked after the flying figure. "Come on, Brick. They'll be worrying about us, too. You better keep close, Matt. Your head might go bad, it might."
Apple was the center of an excited crowd of scouts for there had been no sleep in camp that night. Already they were wigwagging the news of the discovery.
"There's a big smoke all ready to be started on top o' the Mound," explained a scout. "Soon as they get our message they'll start it and then everybody will know and they'll all come in."
Almost as he spoke the signal shot out its flames and smoke and in less than twenty minutes the scoutmaster was folding his son in his embrace and wildly shaking the hands of his lost scouts.
Glen was not there. He had gone quietly into the tent where he had expected to find his friend Spencer.
"Good old scout!" cried Will, as he wrung his hand. "You've been giving me more worry than all the rest of my children put together, but I forgiveeverything now you have returned. Wherever you've been I hope this will be a lesson to you and you'll never go treasure hunting again."
Glen's reply was startling.
"There is no need," he said. "The treasure is found!"
"Found again!" shouted Spencer. "Where? In a bread-box?"
"No, sir. No bread-box this time. Found in the heart of Buffalo Mound. It is pouring into Buffalo Hollow now and by this time to-morrow there will once more be a Buffalo Lake!"
With the crowd of people who came from town to see the marvel of the refilling of Buffalo Lake was a skillful surgeon. He examined Matt's scalp-wound.
"I can fix that up with the aid of the scoutmaster's first aid kit," he announced. "You'll need a few stitches but I guess you are man enough to stand that."
"I can stand it," said Matt. "But have all the fellows go away so they won't hear me if I holler."
"All but one or two," agreed the doctor. "I'll need one or two boys to hold things."
"Use the fellows who were with me, then!" asked Matt. "They know just about how foolishI can be so it won't be anything new to them."
The doctor laughed.
"That's the way heroes talk sometimes," he said. "I'm glad to hear you say it."
"They know all about me being a hero," said Matt. "But they know I learned something in that cave."
"All ready, now," said the doctor. "You hold the bowl," he said to Apple. "And now that you have scrubbed your hands you may hold this pan of instruments," he said to Chick-chick. "And I guess we haven't anything for you to hold," to Glen.
"He's going to be the anesthetic," said Matt. "Take hold of my hands, Brick, and if I holler, punch me."
It was the first time he had addressed Glen by the name which had become so familiar to the others, and both knew that in the word all differences were swept away.
That day there was great rejoicing all through the camp at the return of the lost boys, great rejoicing at the success that seemed sure to come to the plans of Jolly Bill Spencer, and mingled with the rejoicing an underlying vein of excited speculation whether a close search of the cave would not disclose the ancient treasure of bullionor at the very least some booty stored there by the robber band.
Tom Scoresby again headed a delegation to approach the scoutmaster for permission to explore the cave.
"What do you think?" asked Mr. Newton. "Who has first right there—who are the discoverers?"
"Apple and Brick and maybe Chick-chick and Matty," replied honest Tom. "But I reckon they wouldn't want to keep us out."
"It isn't my cave," disclaimed Matt, who sat there with his head swathed in bandages. "I just butted in. I got all that was coming to me."
"'Tain't mine," said Chick-chick. "But if there's any treasure I want some, I do."
Glen and Apple only laughed, but Mr. Newton felt that he could speak for them.
"This is Sunday, boys," he declared. "No one will run away with that cave over night. I don't think that Indian will be back in a hurry. Tomorrow, after camp drill, all first class scouts—the good swimmers—may explore the cave. Mr. Spencer claims the water rights. All bullion and other treasure found and not claimed by the authorities will be shared alike by all in the camp."
Monday morning found the whole camp at theIce Box. The stream still was high so that it was no easy matter to gain access to the cave, but no scout who had passed the swimming test for "first class" thought of shirking the attempt. Mr. Newton himself led the way and Glen and Apple were not far behind.
The many lights relieved the pitchy darkness of the cave enough to show the high ledges that ran still further back into the gloom.
"We will explore these ledges one at a time," said Mr. Newton. "Let every scout make sure of his footing before he steps. Don't get excited."
Alas! there was unfortunately little to create excitement. Farm products—potatoes—bacon—several suits of clothes—old pipes—several tools—pieces of chain—bottles that once had held liquor—even an old straw hat; but of treasure that could create even a moment's excitement there seemed to be none.
"I know who brought this collection here," said Apple. "The Indian! It's his treasure house all right, and that's why he went in here that morning."
"That's all right," said Tom Scoresby, "but there ought to be a lot of real treasure around here. If no bullion, anyway there ought to be the bank robber's stuff."
But all their searching was of no avail. When they returned through the narrow opening they went empty handed.
Waiting on the bank with the younger boys was Matt Burton. He had not been allowed to enter the cave for fear that the swim under water might infect his wound. He was greatly disappointed at their failure and, since characteristics do not change over night, it is not surprising that he had a very strong opinion that if their party had been increased by just one member the result would have been different. Let this be said of Matt—he tried to conceal this feeling.
"Where d'ye look, Brick?" he asked.
"We explored every ledge and went into places that grown men couldn't have squeezed through."
"Did you dig?"
"There isn't much chance to dig. The inside of the cave is a shale that no one could dig into. It would have to be blasted."
"Then there must have been some holes or something—oh, say, did you lift up that shelf of rock we lay on that night?"
"No, we didn't find any loose rock to lift."
"That rock was loose. I remember how it seemed to tip when we moved. In all I've read about treasure there never was any left just ontop of the ground, except in Treasure Island, and even that was buried until Ben Gunn carried it to the cave. I'd like to look under that rock."
"We'll go back with you, Matty," chorused a dozen scouts, only too glad of further exploration.
"Mr. Newton, the water's gone down so much I'm sure I can get through without wetting my head. Please let me try it," begged Matt.
"If ye don't he'll be so excited his brains'll spill out o' that gash, they will," urged Chick-chick.
"I'll give him all the help he needs," offered Glen.
"I'll go along myself," said Mr. Newton. "I guess we can manage him between us."
So back the whole expedition went convoying Matty to the cave. He led them straight to the ledge of rock and the stamp of a foot was enough to show its lack of balance.
The boys were greatly excited—even Mr. Newton showed immense interest.
"Use the pickaxes to pry, boys. Get under these loose corners," directed the scoutmaster. "Tom and Glen, you two are the strongest—one at each corner now."
The broad slab of rock started easily enoughat their energetic effort. A seam appeared to widen—a crack was disclosed—there followed space sufficient to allow a hand to be inserted and then a dozen willing scouts helped with the lift. In a couple of minutes the big slab was thrown over with a crash, and below appeared a cavity that was evidently the work of men's hands.
Dark as Erebus was the interior, baffling the peering eyes of the scouts, until Mr. Newton, hanging a lantern on each point of a pickax, dangled it into the depths. A vault some four or five feet deep and running far back into the cave was disclosed. It was partly filled with an assortment almost as miscellaneous as the treasure left on the ledges by the Indian; a riding saddle, an old coat, several pieces of artillery, some tools which may have been accessory to the trade of burglary, and scattered among these things many articles of personal property which, were undoubtedly of great value.
But the thing upon which the eyes of the scouts rested with greatest interest was a metal box, probably secured from some bank, which rested conspicuously on the top of the plunder.
"Matt and Glen get first selection," said Mr. Newton. "It's their find, whatever it is."
"Well take the box," said the boys.
Although not of great size the box was rather heavy, but its handling was no task for two such athletes. To the great disappointment of all it was locked.
"Never mind," said Mr. Newton. "We will open it when we get to camp. Now the rest of you take each what you can carry. Bear in mind that the question of property rights in this discovery is not to be considered at present. That will come later. All we do now is to carry it to camp."
They made a queer procession as they came one by one through the small opening. Matt and Glen came first pushing their box ahead of them on the raft which had been used in bringing over their tools and lanterns. The scouts who followed in their wake found it no easy matter to keep their treasure clear of the water as they crossed the swift little stream.
"These robbers chose safe place for their plunder all right, all right," said Chick-chick to Apple, "but mighty inconvenient, it is."
"I don't see why they did it," Apple replied. "They ought to have rented a safety deposit box in some bank."
From the other bank their passage was watched not only by the excited group of younger scoutsbut by three new arrivals. They were the sheriff, a deputy and Mr. J. Jervice.
"The kids has found the loot," exclaimed Mr. Jervice. "They're bringing it over now."
"I guess I'll have to take care o' that stuff for you, Cap," said the sheriff to Mr. Newton.
"It's just as you say," replied Mr. Newton. "We would hardly have known the proper thing to do with it. But I want to notify you that if there is any reward for its recovery we claim it."
"We'll see you get it," said the sheriff. "This man Jervice tells us that there's a lot o' valuable bonds and securities in the box. That's what they was down here after, mostly. Jervice thought we'd let him off if he gave the story away to us. The old gang got the location of the cave from an Indian, but Jervice couldn't find the Indian."
"The Indian's gone," said Mr. Newton. "I doubt if he ever comes back. There's a lot of stuff in the cave yet and you'd better get a boat and a wagon. Some of the scouts will help you."