CHAPTER X
DAVE OVERHEARS A PLOT
"They are here for no good purpose!"
Such was the thought which crossed Dave's mind immediately after making his astonishing discovery.
As much as he wished to be saved from his present direful situation, he resolved to keep his presence a secret.
These men were his enemies, and by instinct he felt that Pete Rackley must be Lemuel Hankers' tool.
"I'll wager old Hankers had him try that game on me in Washington," thought the young diver. "It was done so that I couldn't join the Swallow at San Francisco, and that father might remain behind, too, to get me out of the scrape."
Presently Lemuel Hankers and Pete Rackley came so close that Dave could hear all that was said with ease.
"It is a surprise to me that the Swallow stopped here," Lemuel Hankers was saying. "Do you think she was following us?"
"Can't say as to that," replied Rackley, puffing away at a short pipe he was carrying. "Anyway, she's here. Now what is your game? Out with it."
"The game is that I don't want the Fearlesses to get at the sunken treasure, Pete."
"I've heard that before, Lemuel."
"You have always been my right-hand man, Pete, and I know I can rely on you yet, even though you did make a fizzle of that affair in Washington."
"I didn't know I was being spotted," growled the sailor, for such Pete Rackley really was.
"My game is that you go aboard of the Swallow and ship with Captain Broadbeam. Tell him you are a castaway, and have been here nearly a year."
"But young Fearless knows me."
"You can dye your face and your hair and he won't recognize you, I am sure. In that sailor rig you don't look like the man you were in Washington in a light suit and a linen shirt."
"That's true, too. But after I am on the Swallow I don't see what I can do to keep them from going ahead to where the treasure is."
"I will tell you what to do. Wait until you are about a day out from here and then watch your chance and disable the machinery, so that they will have to put back for repairs. When the machinery is repaired, injure the rudder, and that will bring them back again. Keep that up for about a month, and the treasure will be mine, and if I get it, you shall have ten thousand dollars in cold cash for your work."
"It's taking a big risk," answered Pete Rackley, slowly.
"And so is ten thousand dollars a big sum of money, Pete. It's more than you'll ever get by working, and you know it."
"That's true, too."
"And if you are sly about it, you'll run very little risk of detection."
"But how will I get on board of the Raven again?"
"After you have kept the Swallow behind a month you can let her go and desert, hiding in the woods so that they can't find you. You can provide yourself with plenty of food. As soon as we have the treasure on board of the Raven, I'll come back for you and take you on board."
"You won't desert me?"
"I will not. More than that, I'll take Captain Nesik into the secret with me, and I'll leave behind all of my diamonds and my gold watch as an evidence of my good faith."
"Leave your boy Bart here for company and I'll take you up, Hankers."
"I would even do that, Pete, but you know well enough Bart won't stay behind. He is crazy to get the treasure and crow over the Fearlesses. He even says he is going down himself, in that new diving bell we brought along—just to show that he can work under water as well as Dave Fearless."
"Then you must leave me all the stuff you can, and you and Captain Nesik must promise on your bended knees to come back for me. I wouldn't be marooned for twice ten thousand dollars."
"It will be all right. You can—hullo, who is calling?"
A form had appeared at the mouth of the cave.
"Are you in there, dad?" came the cry.
"Yes, Bart," answered Lemuel Hankers. He turned to Pete Rackley. "Come, quick! Do you accept my offer?"
"I do," answered the rascally sailor, and the pair of villains shook hands.
"What are you up to?" went on Bart Hankers, as he came closer.
"Oh, we were just taking a look around," replied his father, carelessly.
"Do you know that the Swallow is in this port?" went on Bart, as he drew closer to the underground stream.
"Yes."
"I wish she was at the bottom of the Pacific, and the Fearlesses with her."
"You should not be so hard on them," replied Lemuel Hankers, hypocritically.
At this Pete Rackley gave a harsh laugh.
"You're a good one," he remarked in a low tone.
"Hush; I don't want my son to know too much," whispered Lemuel Hankers.
By this time Bart Hankers was standing on the edge of the underground stream.
"Wish I could cross over and see what's on the other shore," he muttered.
So far Dave had kept silent, drinking in all that was said.
He realized only too well what a plot was going on against his father and himself, and against the Swallow.
"If only I can get free, I'll show them a trick or two," he told himself.
Suddenly Bart Hankers uttered a cry.
"A snake! A snake!"
He was right; a long snake had appeared at the top of the underground stream.
It was a dangerous-looking reptile, eight feet long, and with nasty green eyes.
Bart Hankers fell back in confusion.
But instead of climbing to the outer bank, the snake crawled out close to the rock behind which Dave was in hiding.
It was against human nature to remain hidden under the circumstances, and the young diver leaped up with all rapidity.
At the same time he yelled at the snake, and the reptile, much startled, dropped back into the stream and was lost to view.
"Dave Fearless!" gasped Bart Hankers, as soon as the danger from the snake was past.
"That boy!" came from Lemuel Hankers and Pete Rackley in a breath.
"Yes, it is I," answered the young diver, boldly.
"How did you get here?" demanded Lemuel Hankers, much disconcerted.
"Tumbled."
"Tumbled?"
"That is what I said, Lemuel Hankers. Have you any objection to my being here?"
"You followed us. You have been playing the part of a spy!" cried the rich man.
"How could I have followed you, seeing that I am on this side of the stream?"
"You leaped over."
"No, he couldn't do that, dad," interposed Bart. "He must have come in some other way."
"You overheard our talk?"
"I did."
At this Pete Rackley emitted a low whistle.
"In that case our cake is dough," he muttered.
"Not if I know it," muttered Lemuel Hankers, savagely. "Do you think I am to be worsted by a mere boy?" And he shook his fist at Dave.
All three of the young diver's enemies came to the edge of the stream.
"How did you get where you are?" repeated Lemuel Hankers.
"As I said before, I tumbled."
"You are trying to poke fun at me."
"I was never more serious in my life."
"You think you are smart," put in Bart.
"What I think is none of your business."
"We'll make it our business," burst out Lemuel Hankers, wrathfully. "Come over here, and come instantly."