CHAPTER VI
THE STORY OF A TREASURE
It was a disheartening discovery, but the three Rover boys did not stop to think it over. Throwing open the bolted door, Tom and Dick joined Sam, and in the darkness made their way to the rear of the room in which they had held Cuffer and Shelley prisoners. In a minute more they were outside, under the trees at the rear of the old mill.
"Which way did they go?"
Tom asked the question, but nobody could answer it. The moon had now gone under some clouds and it was so dark they could scarcely see ten feet in any direction.
"Perhaps they took to the river again," suggested Sam.
"It is not likely," answered his big brother. "But we can take a look."
They ran around to where the men had landed. Their boat was still in its place, tied to a tree.
"Listen!" cried Sam "Somebody's shouting, and there is a light."
"It is Jack Ness," said Tom.
The boys set up an answering shout, and soon a boat came up to the shore. It contained the hired man and the two Ditwolds. They had a lantern with them and also an old fashioned single barrel shotgun.
The situation was quickly explained, and then the party of six began a systematic search of the woods and the various roads in the vicinity of Henderson's mill. This search lasted until morning, but nothing came of it.
"We may as well give up," said Dick, at last. "They have gotten away and that is all there is to it."
The boys were completely tired out when they got home. Their uncle and aunt were much worried over their prolonged absence and overjoyed to see them return unharmed.
"I was so afraid one of you might get shot or something," said Mrs.
Rover. "Some of those, chickens thieves are desperate characters."
"Those men were more than chicken thieves," answered Dick. And he told his uncle and aunt of the conversation overheard at the old mill.
"It is a great pity that they got away," said Randolph Rover.
"What do you imagine they are after, Uncle Randolph?" questioned Sam.
"I do not know, excepting it may be some mining stocks or a deed to some property. Perhaps your father will be able to explain it when he gets back."
The authorities were notified, but they failed to apprehend the men. It was learned that the boat they had used had been stolen from, a point near Oak Run, and the craft was returned to its owner. That they had used the old mill for a stopping place was evidenced by the remains of numerous meals found there. The boys made a careful search of the premises, but brought nothing to light which was of use to them.
"I wish father was home—or we knew how to reach him by telephone, or with a telegram," remarked Dick.
"Well, we can't reach him, so we'll have to be patient until he returns," answered Sam. "By the way, I wonder if his going away had anything to do with what those men were up to?"
"It might be so," returned Dick, slowly. "Both happenings are queer, to say the least."
"I wish I knew what father has in mind to do," came from Tom. "I hope we take some kind of a trip. I don't want to stick on the farm all summer."
With nothing to do, the next two days passed slowly. The boys went fishing and swimming, and they also did some shooting at a target which they set up behind the barn, and whiled away, some time at boxing and in gymnastic exercises. Dick also spent an hour in penning a long letter to Dora Stanhope, who, as my old readers are well aware, was his dearest girl friend. Dora and her mother lived not far from Putnam Hall, and Dick and his brothers had become acquainted with her and her two cousins, Nellie and Grace Laning, when they had first gone to school. The Rover boys had on several occasions saved Mrs. Stanhope from serious trouble, and for this the widow was very grateful. She and her daughter had gone with them on the houseboat trip down the Ohio and the Mississippi, and Mrs. Laning and Nellie and Grace had likewise accompanied the party. It may be added here that Tom and Sam thought Nellie and Grace two of the nicest girls in the whole world, which indeed they were.
On Saturday morning the boys were contemplating a bicycle ride when
Sam, who chanced to look toward the road, set up a shout:
"Here comes father!"
All gazed in the direction and saw Mr. Rover coming toward them in a rig he had hired at the depot. They ran to meet their parent and were soon shaking him by the hand. They saw that he looked travel worn and tired.
"I have been on the go ever since I left Putnam Hall," said Anderson Rover. "It was a most unexpected trip. I will tell you all about it as soon as I have rested a bit and had something to eat."
"We have something to tell, too," answered Dick. "But that can keep until later."
Inside of an hour Mr. Rover had been served with a good, hot breakfast and then he declared that he felt like a new man. He invited the whole family into the sitting room for a conference of importance.
"I told you lads I had something on my mind," he said. "I did not want to speak of it while at the graduation exercises at the school because there was too much going on. Now I am going to tell you everything and also tell you what I propose to do. But first, I want to listen to what you have to tell me."
It did not take the three boys long to relate the particulars of the pursuit of Cuffer and Shelley, and of what they had overheard at the old mill. Anderson Rover listened with close attention and did not seem surprised when they mentioned Sid Merrick's name.
"That fits in, to a certain degree, with what I have to tell you." he said, when they had finished.
"It is a strange story, and the only way for me to do, so that it will be perfectly clear to you, is to tell it from the beginning."
"Well, we're willing enough to listen," said Dick, with a smile.
"We've been on pins and needles ever since you said you had something important to tell," added Tom, grinning.
"Well, to start, this concerns Mrs. Stanhope more than it concerns ourselves," began the father.
"What!" ejaculated Dick. He had not expected anything of this sort.
"I knew you would be surprised, Dick, and you'll be more surprised when I get through."
"Are the Lanings in this?" questioned Sam, thinking of Grace.
"They are in a certain sense—or will be if everything turns out successfully. When Mr. Stanhope died he left most of his property to Mrs. Stanhope and Dora—the majority to Dora—but a small share was left to the Lanings, they being so closely related and such good friends."
"But what is it all about?" asked Tom, impatiently.
"As I said before, I must start at the beginning, or perhaps you won't understand at all. As you know, Mr. Stanhope died some years ago. He was interested in various business enterprises, including a number of vessels which carried freight between the United States and the West Indies. One of his partners in the freight carrying business was a man named Robertson and another was a Silas Merrick."
"Merrick!" cried Sam.
"Yes, and this Silas Merrick was an older brother to Sid Merrick, the rascal who stole the bonds, and whom you heard mentioned by Cuffer and Shelley. Let me say here that Silas Merrick is dead, and when he died he left all his property to his brother Sidney and his sister. The sister is dead, too, and her property, so I understand, went to her son Tad Sobber."
"This is getting deep," said Tom, his sunny face growing wrinkled.
"It will soon get deeper, Tom. During the time that the firm of Stanhope, Robertson & Merrick were carrying freight from the West Indies there was a fierce revolution in Central America. Some families of high rank were forced to flee, among them a nobleman named Parmonelli, who left home carrying with him gold and diamonds worth many thousands of dollars. He managed to get on board one of the vessels owned by Mr. Stanhope's firm, and Mr. Stanhope was on the ship at the same time. The vessel was followed by revolutionists who were no better than pirates, and after a fierce fight the revolutionists shot Parmonelli and carried off his fortune."
"This is certainly getting deep," murmured Sam.
"Parmonelli was not killed at once, but died two days after being shot down. He was very bitter against the revolutionists, and said they had no right to take his fortune from him—that it was his and did not belong to the state. As Mr. Stanhope had befriended him to the last he made a will, leaving the fortune to Mr. Stanhope if the same could be recovered."
"And how much was it?" questioned Dick.
"I cannot say exactly the will mentions six bags of gold and one bag of precious stones, all packed in several chests."
"It's queer I never heard of this from Dora," said Dick. "She told me about the other money her father left."
"Mr. Stanhope kept the matter to himself, and at his death told only Mr. Laning, for—as you know—Mrs. Stanhope was then in delicate health and it was deemed very unwise to excite her."
"But what about the fortune—was it recovered?" asked Tom.
"No."
"Then the money has long since been spent," cried Sam in dismay.
"No, Sam, the money and the jewels, to the best of my belief, have never been touched. When the revolutionists carried them off they said they were going straight back to Central America with them. Instead, however, they landed on an island of the West Indies and there started to divide the fortune. This caused a bitter fight, in which several of the party were killed and wounded. Then it was decided to hide the money and jewels in a cave on the island and make a division later. A place was selected and the gold and jewels placed under heavy rocks in a small cave. After that the party sailed away. When they got home, much to their surprise and dismay, they found their country in the hands once more of the government. They were captured and all but two were sentenced to be shot as traitors. The two were sent to prison and they were released less than a year ago. One was a Spaniard named Doranez and the other a Spanish American sailor named Camel, but usually called Bahama Jack, because he has spent nearly all his life among the Bahama Islands."
"Did those two men go after the treasure when they got out of prison?" asked Sam.
"They wanted to, but were poor and had forgotten the exact location of the island where the treasure was hidden. Bahama Jack was a happy go lucky sort of a sailor and he came to this country and worked for a while on a lumber schooner running from Florida to Boston. Doranez also came to this country, but where he kept himself at first I do not know."
"Go on, Dad, this is getting exciting," broke in Tom, as his parent paused in his recital.
"Not long ago Mrs. Stanhope came to me for advice concerning this matter. Mr. Laning had told her everything, and she wanted to know if it would be worth while to organize an expedition to hunt for the treasure. I said I would look into the matter and ask her to give me what papers Mr. Stanhope had left in reference to the affair. I started to hunt up Bahama Jack and Doranez. After a good deal of work I found the former and had several long talks with him."
"Did you get any news from him?" asked Dick.
"A little. He does not remember exactly where the island was located, but told much about its general appearance and what other islands were in that vicinity. But he also told me something else, which worried me a good deal. It was that Sid Merrick, as the heir of Silas Merrick, was also after the treasure."
CHAPTER VII
IN WHICH SOMETHING IS MISSING
"Sid Merrick after the treasure!" cried Dick.
"Yes. He wants it both for himself and for his nephew, Tad Sobber. He claims that the revolutionists took it from a ship belonging in part to his brother and consequently he has as much right to it as has Mrs. Stanhope."
"But that isn't so, is it?" asked Sam.
"No; the treasure, if it is found, belongs to Mr. Stanhope's estate absolutely—that is, to Mrs. Stanhope, Dora and the Lanings. The fact that Silas Merrick had an interest in the ship at the time of the stealing of the wealth cuts no figure at all."
"What is Sid Merrick doing?" asked Tom.
"He has been working in secret, looking for Bahama Jack and the Spaniard, Doranez. I found out that he had one talk with Bahama Jack, but the sailor did not like Merrick and told him very little. Then I started to find Doranez—he is the man I have been after during the past week. I found him and he promised to work with me if I would pay him for his trouble. But yesterday he sent me a note, stating he had changed his mind and was going to Spain, to look up some of his relatives. So he is probably out of it from now on."
"Maybe he is going to look for the treasure on his own account," suggested Randolph Rover.
"He cannot do that very well, for he has little or no money."
"And what do you propose to do, father—go on a hunt for the treasure?" asked Dick.
"Yes. From what papers I have on hand and the information gotten from Bahama Jack I think we stand a fair chance of locating that island and of finding the cave where the treasure is secreted. Of course, there is a good deal of guess work about it, but I am convinced the thing is worth trying."
"And how are you going at it?" came from Tom.
"A friend of mine in Philadelphia, a Mr. Dale, has a steam yacht which he is not going to use this summer, as he is going to Europe. I have determined to charter that yacht and go on a cruise among the West Indies. It will be a fine outing for the summer, even if we don't locate Treasure Isle, as Mr. Stanhope called the spot."
"And you'll take us along?" asked Tom, quickly.
"If you want to go."
"If we want to go? Does a duck want to swim, or a dog want to scratch fleas? Of course we want to go."
"Such a trip will suit me to a T," said Sam. "And I hope with all my heart we locate that treasure," he added earnestly.
"Of course you'll take this Bahama Jack along," said Dick.
"Yes, and I have promised him a big reward if the treasure is recovered," answered his father.
"Who else will be in the party?"
At this question Anderson Rover's eyes began to sparkle.
"I was going to keep it a secret, but perhaps I had better tell you. The steam yacht is a large one and can readily accommodate fifteen or twenty passengers. I have decided to ask Mrs. Stanhope to go and bring Dora, and will also ask the Lanings. Then they will know exactly what is being done to recover the treasure. In addition, if you want to take some of your chums with you, as you did on that houseboat trip."
"Hurrah, just the thing!" burst out Sam. "Let us take Fred Garrison by all means."
"Yes, and Songbird Powell and Hans Mueller" added Tom. "They will help to make things lively."
"Can they go?" questioned Dick.
"We can telegraph and find out," answered Tom. "I'll telegraph this afternoon," he added always ready to do things on the rush. "We ought to get an answer to night or to morrow morning.
"When do you want to start on the trip?" asked Dick.
"As soon as the party can be made up, and the steam yacht can be gotten in readiness. I have already instructed the captain to provision her for the trip."
"Then she has a captain and a crew?"
"Oh, Yes, she carries ten men, including an engineer and his assistant."
"That is certainly fine!" said Dick, and he smiled as he thought of what a nice trip they would have with Dora Stanhope on board. Dick was not "moonstruck," but he had a manly regard for Dora that did him credit.
After that Anderson Rover gave them many more details regarding the treasure, and his talks with Bahama Jack and of what he hoped to accomplish. He had a fair idea of the latitude and longitude of Treasure Isle, which, he had been told, was of coral formation, covered with palms and shaped somewhat like a horseshoe.
"Bahama Jack says the treasure cave is about in the center of the inner curve of the island, but that you cannot sail close to it on account of the numerous reefs. You have to land on the island in a small boat, and that is why very few ships stop there. Natives of that vicinity occasionally go there for fruit and for birds, but there is no regular village on the island."
"If the island is shaped like a horseshoe we ought not to have great difficulty in locating it," said Dick.
"The trouble is, you cannot see the formation very well from the sea, Dick. If one were in a balloon it would be different. You must remember that there are many hundreds of islands scattered in that part of our globe."
"Let's take a balloon along," suggested Tom. "Then we could go up and take a look around."
"You couldn't look far enough, Tom, and if you tried to sail in the balloon you'd probably drop into the ocean and be drowned. No, we'll have to do our searching from the steam yacht. But I have several maps and drawings which I think, will aid us."
"The things Cuffer and Shelley were after?" cried Dick.
"Perhaps if they are in league with Sid Merrick. Merrick, of course, would like to get all the information possible."
"I'd like to look at the maps and drawings."
"So would I," added Sam and Tom. The idea of going on a treasure hunt filled them with great interest.
"The maps and drawings I have are only copies," went on Anderson
Rover. "The originals are in Mrs. Stanhope's possession."
Mr. Rover turned to his brother. "You have them, Randolf. Will you please get them?"
"I have them?" queried Randolph Rover, in perplexity. As my old readers know, he was at times somewhat absent minded.
"Why, yes, don't you remember my giving them to you? They were in a large yellow envelope. I think you placed them away with your traction company bonds."
"Why—er—so I did," stammered Randolph Rover. "But I—er—I don't quite remember what I did with them." He scratched his head. "I'll go and get my tin box."
He left the sitting room, and after being gone fully ten minutes returned with a flat tin box, in which he kept some papers of value.
"The envelope doesn't seem to be here," he said, turning over the contents of the box.
"Don't you remember it?" asked his brother, anxiously.
"Oh, yes, I remember it very well now. I saw it only a couple of days before I went to Carwell with my bonds."
"Did you take that tin box to Carwell?" asked Tom.
"Yes."
"Was the envelope in it then?"
"I—er—I really don't know, Thomas. You see I was much upset, thinking my bonds were no good. Perhaps the yellow envelope was in the box, under the bonds."
"And did Sid Merrick have hold of the box?" demanded Anderson Rover.
"He may have had. The box was on a side table, and he walked around the room and over to it several times."
"Then, unless you have the envelope now, Sid Merrick stole it," said
Anderson Rover, somewhat bitterly.
This announcement filled Randolph Rover with increased anxiety and as a result he looked over all his private papers and ransacked his safe and his desk from end to end. But the precious yellow envelope and its contents were not brought to light.
"Merrick must have gotten hold of that envelope at the time he stole the bonds," said Dick. "Maybe that is what made him trace up this story of the treasure."
"That may be true, Dick," answered his parent.
Randolph Rover was greatly distressed over the disappearance of the maps and drawings and upbraided himself roundly for not having been more careful.
"Now that they are in this Merrick's hands he may make use of them," he said dolefully.
"Undoubtedly he will," answered Anderson Rover.
"If he has those papers and maps why did he send Cuffer and Shelley here?" asked Tom.
"Most likely he thought he could get additional information."
"It seems to me the best thing we can do is to get after that treasure without delay," said Dick. "If we don't, Merrick may form some kind of a party, locate the island, and steal the gold and jewels from under our very noses!"
"Oh, such things are not done in a day, Dick," said his father, with a faint smile. "But I agree with you, the quicker we get after the treasure the better."
After that a discussion lasting well after the dinner hour followed, and was only ended when Mrs. Rover fairly drove them into the dining room for the midday repast. It was resolved that the party to go in search of the treasure should be made up of Anderson Rover and his three sons, Mrs. Stanhope and Dora, the Lannings, and also Fred Garrison, Songbird Powell and Hans Mueller. During the afternoon a number of telegrams and letters were written, and the boys send these off before nightfall.
Aleck Pop was very much interested in such conversation as he had overheard, and as he had accompanied the boys to the jungles of Africa and on the houseboat trip he was very anxious to be a member of the present party.
"I don't see how yo' young gen'men is gwine to get along widout me," he said to Sam. "Don't yo' think you kin squeeze me aboadh somehow?"
"Aren't you afraid you'd get seasick, Aleck?" asked Sam.
"I ain't afraid ob muffin, if only yo'll take me along," answered the darkey earnestly.
"I suppose the steam yacht has its cook."
"Dat might be, Massa Sam, but didn't I cook all right on dot houseboat?"
"You certainly did."
"Might be as how I could gab dot cook on de yacht seem p'ints as to wot yo' young gen'men like, ain't dot so?"
"Perhaps, Aleck. If you wish, I'll speak to father about it."
"T'ank yo' werry much, Massa Sam!"
"But you must promise one thing," put Tom, who was listening to the talk.
"Wot is dat?"
"You won't run off and marry the widow Taylor when you get back."
"Huh! I'se done wid dat trash!" snorted Aleck. "She kin mahrry dat
Thomas an' welcome. I don't want her or her chillun neither!"
"All right, then, Aleck, we'll, see what we can do for you," said Tom, and Sam said the same. In the end it was agreed that Aleck should accompany the party as a general helper, and this pleased the colored man very much. It was a lucky thing for the boys that Aleck went along, as certain later events proved.
CHAPTER VIII
THE ROVER BOYS IN NEW YORK
The more the Rover boys talked about the treasure hunt the more enthusiastic they became, until, as Tom expressed it, they were "simply boiling over with enthusiasm."
"It will be a grand thing for the Stanhopes and the Lanings if we do locate that treasure," said Sam. "Mr. Laning has some money, but I know he'd like more, so he wouldn't have to farm quite so hard."
"And Dick wants to get all he can for Dora, I'm certain of that," said
Tom, with a merry glance at his elder brother.
"How about you getting the Laning share for Nellie's benefit?" retorted Dick, his face growing red. "I reckon the boot is as long as the shoe."
As the Rovers had plenty of money it was an easy matter to arrange for the expenses of the trip. Mrs. Stanhope wanted to pay a share, but Anderson Rover said she had better wait until the treasure was found.
Inside of three, days word was received from all those who had been asked to participate in the search. Mr. Laning said that he could not leave his farm very well, but that his wife and two daughters would go. Mrs. Stanhope and Dora said they would pack immediately. Fred Garrison was visiting Hans Mueller and the two sent a telegram as follows:
"You couldn't hold us back if you tried. Where shall we meet you?"
"That's like Fred," said Dick. "I am awfully glad he is to be with us —and glad Hans will come, too."
The last telegram to come in was from Songbird Powell. The reply of the would-be poet of Putnam Hall was characteristic:
"Tell me where,
And I'll be there,
On the run
For lots of fun."
"If that isn't Songbird!" exclaimed Sam, laughing, as he read the telegram. "Had to talk in rhyme even over the telegraph wire!"
It was finally decided that the whole party should meet in Philadelphia about the Fourth of July, which was now less than a week off. They should go directly to the steam yacht, and the voyage was to begin as soon as all arrangements were completed.
"I wish to stop off at New York for a day," said Anderson Rover. "If you boys want to go with me you may do so."
"That will suit me," answered Dick, and his brothers said the same.
It had been agreed that no outsiders should be told of the treasure hunt, so nothing was mentioned but a summer trip on a steam yacht. The day the Rovers and Aleck Pop left the farm was a clear one, and all were in the best of spirits. The colored man drove to the depot with Jack Ness and the trunks and dress suit cases, and all of the others went in the carryall, Randolph Rover driving and Mrs. Rover giving the boys final instructions about taking care of themselves.
"I shall miss you very much," she said, with tears in her eyes. Her lively nephews were as dear to her as if they were her own sons.
"You'd better go along, Aunt Martha," said Dick.
"We'd like it first rate," added Sam.
"It might help us to keep out of mischief," came from Tom, with a bright smile.
"No, I'll stay at home with your uncle, boys. But do take care of yourselves, and come home safe."
"Oh, there will be no danger in this trip," said Dick, but he was mistaken—there was to be great peril and of an unusual kind. If the treasure hunters could have seen what was before them they would not have started off in such a confident frame of mind.
The train was a little late, but presently it rolled into the station and the trunks and other baggage were hoisted aboard. Then came the final embraces and the boys climbed up the steps, followed by their father and Aleck.
"Hurrah, we are off at last!" cried Tom, and waved his cap enthusiastically. The others did the same, and then the train started and Oak Run quickly faded from sight. As the boys settled down in their seats a lad came from another car and moved swiftly toward them.
"Songbird, by all that's lucky!" cried Dick, and caught the other by the hand.
"I thought you'd be on this train," answered Songbird Powell. "I got your wire last night that you would stop off at New York. I am going to stop, too—to see an uncle of mine on a little business."
"Then you'll travel with us to Philadelphia?" queried Sam.
"Sure."
"Good! Tom was just saying he'd like some of the others along."
"When I got your invitation I danced a jig of delight," went on
Songbird. "I just couldn't help it. Then I sat down and wrote—"
"A piece of poetry about it thirty five stanzas long," finished Tom.
"No, Tom, there are only six verses. You see I couldn't help it—I was so chuck full of enthusiasm. The poem begins like this:
"'Twas a peaceful, summer night,
When all the stars were shining bright,
There came a rap on our house door
Which made me leap from bed to floor.
To me had come a telegram
From my old chums, Dick, Tom and Sam
Asking if I had a notion
To sail with them upon the ocean.
To skim along on waters blue—"
"And then and there get seasick, too," finished Tom. "Don't forget to put in about the seasickness, Songbird—it always goes with a voyage, you know."
"Seasick!" snorted the would-be poet. "Who ever heard of seasickness in a poem? The next line is this:
"And see so many sights quite new,
To rest in quiet day by day
And watch the fishes at their play."
"That's the first verse. The second begins—"
"Save it, Songbird, until we're on the yacht," interrupted Sam. "We'll have more time to listen then."
"All right," answered the would-be poet cheerfully. "I want to fix up some of the lines anyhow. I've got 'harm' to rhyme with 'storm' and it doesn't quite suit me."
"Never mind—a storm often does great harm," said Dick. "You can easily fix it up by throwing out both words, you know."
After that the talk drifted around to the matter of the treasure hunt and Songbird was given some of the details, in which he became much interested. He declared that he thought the trip on the steam yacht would be even more interesting than the one on the houseboat had been.
"We're after something definite this trip," he said. "We've got something to look forward to specially if that Sid Merrick starts a rival hunt."
"We want to get ahead of Merrick," answered Dick. "We want to locate Treasure Isle and get the gold and jewels before he knows what we are up to."
"What's the name of the steam yacht."
"The Rainbow."
"That's a good name, for a rainbow is a sign of good promise," was
Songbird's comment.
The party had to make one change of cars and had their dinner on the train. They arrived at the Grand Central Depot at half past two o'clock and the Rovers went to a nearby hotel, taking Aleck with them, while Songbird hurried off to transact his business with his uncle.
Mr. Rover had to meet some men who were interested in his mining ventures in the far west, and so, after accommodations had been obtained, he hurried off, leaving the boys to their own devices.
"Let us take a stroll down Broadway," suggested Sam, to whom the sights of this busy thoroughfare were always interesting.
The others were willing, and they passed through Forty second street to Broadway and then turned southward. The street was filled with wagons, trucks and trolley cars, and the sidewalk appeared to "overflow with folks," as Sam said. At one point a man was giving some sort of an exhibition in a store window and here the crowd was so great they had to walk out into the gutter to get past.
"I can tell you one thing," remarked Dick. "There is after all but one
New York and no other city is like it."
The boys walked slowly as far as Union Square and then sat down on one of the park benches to rest. Nearly all the benches were filled with people and in idle curiosity Dick began to scan the various types of men present, from bright, brisk clerks to fat and unshaved bummers, too lazy to work.
"Hullo!"
Dick uttered the exclamation so abruptly that Sam and Tom were startled.
"What do you see?" queried both.
"Look there!"
They gazed in the direction Dick pointed out and on a distant bench saw a youth of about Tom's age, but heavier set, talking to a man who wore a rusty suit of brown and a peculiarly shaped slouch hat.
"Why, that's Tad Sobber!" cried Tom.
"So it is," added Sam. "Who is that fellow with him?"
"I don't know, although his figure looks somewhat familiar to me," answered Dick.
"What can Tad be doing in New York?" questioned Tom. "Do you suppose he is down here with Sid Merrick?"
"Perhaps."
"Let's go over and see what he has to say for himself," suggested Sam.
"Maybe he'll run away when he sees us."
All of the boys were curious to know what the former bully of Putnam Hall might have to say for himself and they strode over to the bench upon which Sobber and the man in brown were sitting. They came up behind the pair.
"I can't give you any money, Cuffer," they heard Tad Sobber say.
"You'll have to wait till my Uncle Sid gets here."
"When will he get to New York?"
"To morrow."
"That fellow is Cuffer, the man who ran away from us at the old mill!" cried Dick.
"Let us catch him and hand him over to the police," returned Tom.
In his excitement he talked rather loudly and this attracted the attention of Cuffer and Tad Sobber.
"The Rovers!" cried Sobber, leaping to his feet in consternation. "How did they get down to New York?"
"Who did you say?" questioned Cuffer, and then looking at the three youths his face blanched. "We must get away from here, and be quick about it!"
He started to run and Dick and Sam went after him. The chase led to the lower end of the little park, and then Cuffer crossed Fourteenth street, and amid the crowd bound homeward for the day, pushed his way in the direction of the Third Avenue elevated railroad station.
In the meantime Tad Sobber started to run in another direction. But before he had taken a dozen steps Tom was on him and had him by the arm.
"Stop, Sobber," he said shortly.
"I won't! You let me go, Tom Rover."
"I'll not let you go," answered Tom, firmly. "And if you don't stand still I'll call a policeman and have you arrested."
CHAPTER IX
A CHASE ON THE BOWERY
Tom's threat to have Tad Sobber arrested caused the former bully of the school to pause and turn pale.
"You—er—you don't mean that," he faltered. "You can't have me arrested."
"We'll see about that, Sobber."
"I haven't done anything wrong."
"Then why did you run away from Putnam Hall?"
"I had a right to leave. Captain Putnam wasn't treating me fairly."
"You ran away on account of that snake affair—you can't deny it."
"Humph!"
"That snake nearly killed Nick Pell. He isn't over it yet, altogether."
"Bah! It wasn't the snake made Nick sick. He wasn't feeling well some days before the snake bit him."
"It was the snake and nothing else put him in bed," answered Tom warmly. "And that is not all. You are in league with your uncle, who robbed my uncle of those traction company bonds."
"I—er—I don't know anything about that matter," answered
Sobber, hastily.
"Well, I know all about it. You were with your uncle when he got away from us, and when he dropped the pocketbook containing the bonds."
"Did you get the bonds back?" asked Sobber, with sudden interest. It may be added here that Sid Merrick had gone back long after the chase to look for the pocketbook, but, of course, had been unable to get any trace of it.
"We did."
"My uncle didn't steal them. Your uncle put them in his hands to sell," went on Tad Sobber, with sudden boldness. "It is all a cooked up story about his running away with them. And it's a cooked up story about his having anything to do with those freight thieves. My uncle is an honest man."
"I know all about the freight affair, for I overheard him talking to some of the other thieves," answered Tom. "Where is your uncle now?"
"Do you think I'd be fool enough to tell you?"
"Perhaps you might—if I had you locked up."
"My uncle is a good long way from New York."
"I heard you tell that man your uncle would be in the city to-morrow."
"I didn't say any such thing!" burst out Sobber, but his manner showed that he was very much disturbed.
"You did say it. Where are you stopping?"
"Nowhere—I only got in a few hours ago."
"Did you come here to meet Cuffer?"
"What do you know about Cuffer?"
"I know your uncle hired him and a man named Shelley to visit our farm and get some things belonging to my father."
"Why, you're crazy! My uncle hardly knows Cuffer—and I never heard of a man named Shelley."
"I am not crazy, and you know I am speaking the truth," answered Tom, calmly. "Now you tell me where your uncle is or I'll have you arrested."
"You'll not arrest me!" exclaimed Tad Sobber, and with a sudden movement he twisted himself free from Tom's grasp. "You follow me and you'll get the worst of it!" he added, and darted across the park at top speed.
Tom made after the bully, but as luck would have it a nurse girl with a baby carriage got between them and before Tom could clear himself of the carriage Sobber was a good distance away. He turned to the eastward, down a side street where a large building was in the course of erection. He looked back and then skipped into the unfinished building.
"He shan't catch me," he muttered to himself, and ran to the rear of the building, amid piles of bricks and concrete blocks. A number of workmen were present, but nobody noticed him.
Reaching the building Tom peered inside, but saw nothing of the bully.
He was about to go in when a warning cry reached him from overhead.
"Get back there, unless you want to be hurt!"
Tom looked up and saw a workman in the act of throwing down a mass of rubbish, broken bricks, sticks and old mortar. He leaped back and the stuff descended in front of him and raised a cloud of dust.
"What do you want here, young man?" demanded the superintendent of the building as he came forward.
"I am after a boy who just ran in here."
"Nobody here that I saw."
"He just came in."
"We don't allow skylarking around here. You make yourself scarce," and the superintendent waved Tom away.
"I want to have that fellow arrested—that is why he ran away from me."
"Oh, that's a different thing. Go find him, if you can."
The superintendent stepped aside and Tom entered the building. But the delay had cost him dear, for in the meanwhile Tad Sobber had made good his escape by running back to the next street. Tom looked around for over quarter of an hour and then gave up the chase.
"It's too bad, but it can't be helped," he mused. "I may as well go back to the park and wait for Dick and Sam. I hope they caught that Cuffer."
While Tom was talking to Sobber the other Rover boys had followed Cuffer to the elevated railroad station. A train was just coming in and Cuffer bounded up the steps two at a time, with the boys not far behind.
"Stop that man!" cried Dick, to the crowd coming from the train. But before anybody would or could act, Cuffer had slipped past the man at the ticket box and was trying to board one of the cars. Dick essayed to follow, but the ticket box guard stopped him.
"Not to fast, young fellow. Where's your ticket?"
"I must catch that man—he is wanted by the police," answered Dick.
"That's an old dodge, but it don't work with me, see? You go back and get a ticket," said the gateman, firmly.
"But he'll get away from me," pleaded the eldest Rover.
"If he does, it's not my fault. You can't pass here without a ticket."
By this time the train was almost ready to start. But Sam had procured tickets and he rushed up.
"There are two tickets!" he cried. "Come on, Dick!" and he sprinted for the train.
The guard was closing the platform gate, but they managed to squeeze through. The train was crowded with people going home from their day's work and in the jam they could see nothing of Cuffer.
"But he is on board," said Dick.
"I know it," returned his brother, "and we must find him. Quick, you go to the front and I'll go to the rear. If you locate him, tell the trainman you want him arrested at the next station."
Without another word the brothers separated and each tried to work his way to an end of the train, which was composed of five cars. This was by no means easy, for the crowd was in no humor to be jostled or have its toes stepped upon.
"Look where you are going!" cried one stout man to Sam. "Stop pushing me!" And then as the youngest Rover dodged out of his way he ran his ear into the big feather on a young lady clerk's immense hat. The girl glared at him and murmured something under her breath, which was far from complimentary. By the time he had reached the front end of the car half a dozen passengers were his enemies.
Dick had gone to the rear and as he entered the last car he saw Cuffer crouching down in a seat near the door. The train was stopping at another station, and quick as a flash the fellow arose in the seat, shot between Dick and a man with several bundles, and forced his way out on the platform. Dick tried to follow, but was caught fast by several men.
"Here, don't be acting in such a rowdy fashion!" cried one man, in great irritation.
"You knocked my bundle from my hand!" added another. "It's a shame the way some roughs act on these trains. The authorities ought to have them arrested," he went on in a loud voice.
"What's the trouble in there?" demanded a policeman, who was on the station platform in the crowd.
"This young fellow is too fresh," explained the man who had dropped his bundle.
"I want to get off, that's all," said Dick.
"Well, you behave yourself," growled the guardian of the peace, and Dick was glad enough to get away with this reprimand. He saw Cuffer running for the stairs and made after him as rapidly as the density of the crowd permitted.
When Dick gained the street once more the train bearing Sam was again on its way downtown. Cuffer was about a block away, running past Cooper Institute in the direction of the Bowery.
"I may as well keep up the chase and try to run him down," thought
Dick, but he wished his brother was with him.
At this time of day the Bowery, always a busy thoroughfare, was swarming with people, and the numerous "barkers" for the clothing stores, photograph establishments, and the like, were doing their best to make trade come to them. As Dick hurried past one clothing establishment a short, stocky Jew stepped in front of him.
"Von't you step inside, young chentleman? I sell you some gloding cheap as dirt."
"I don't want any clothing," answered Dick, briefly.
"I vos mof next veek, und I sell you a suit for next to nodding," persisted the clothing dealer.
"I don't want to buy anything," said Dick, and tried to push past the man. The fellow caught him by the arm.
"If you vill only look at dose peautiful suits vot I haf for twelf dollar—"
The Jew got no further, for with a strong push Dick sent him staggering among the dummies in front of his store. He tried to recover his balance, but could not, and over he went, bringing down two of the dummies on top of him.
"Serves you right," flung back Dick, as he ran on. "The next time you'll know enough to leave me alone."
"Isaac! Moses! Sthop dot young mans!" bawled the clothing dealer, as he scrambled to his feet. "He has ruined two peautiful dummies, mit fine suits on! Sthop him!"
"Not to day!" muttered Dick, and dodged into the crowd. Then, seeing that Cuffer had crossed the street, he did the same, and continued the pursuit on that side.
But to follow anybody long in a crowd on the Bowery is not easy, and after six blocks had been passed Dick came to a halt on a corner in bewilderment. He had seen Cuffer last on that corner, but where the rascal had gone was a question.
"Want a paper?" asked an urchin close by. "Evening papers!"
"Say, kid, did you see a man run past here just now?" asked Dick.
"Sure I did."
"Where did he go?"
"Wot will yer give me if I tell yer?" asked the newsboy shrewdly.
"Five cents."
"All right, hand over de nickel."
"Here it is," and Dick showed the money in his hand. "Now where was it?"
"He went in de Sunrise Hotel, down dare. I watched him run in."
"What kind of a hat did he have on?"
"A soft hat wid a big knock in one side."
"And you are sure he went in that hotel?"
"Cross me heart, mister. I watched him, cos he was out o' breath, an'
I knowed he was up to som't'in'."
"Here is your money," answered Dick, and passed the nickel over. Then he walked to the hotel and paused on the sidewalk to look the place over before entering.
CHAPTER X
DICK BECOMES A PRISONER
The Sunrise Hotel had seen better days. It was a five story brick building, blackened by age and had numerous small windows, down in front of which ran an iron fire escape. The lower floor was used as a drinking place, to one side of which ran a narrow stairs, leading to an office and a parlor above.
Looking in over the short doors of the drinking place, Dick saw that Cuffer was not there. He rightly surmised that the fellow had gone upstairs, to a room he was occupying.
"Perhaps that fellow Shelley is with him," mused Dick. "If so, I'd like to collar them both."
Several men were coming and going and nobody paid particular attention to the youth until he gained the dingy office, where two men were smoking and talking over the merits of some race horses.
"What can I do for you?" asked one of the men abruptly, as Dick looked around.
"Is a man named Cuffer stopping here?"
The hotel clerk shook his head.
"Perhaps I have the name wrong. I mean a man who came in a minute or two ago—fellow with a soft hat, knocked in on the side."
"Oh, that chap! Yes, he's here—room eighteen, next floor," and the clerk pointed up the stairs, for the hotel had no elevator.
Dick walked up the stairs slowly, revolving in his mind what he should do if he met Cuffer face to face. If he had the man arrested it might lead to legal complications, and the voyage in search of Treasure Isle might be delayed. It would be hard to prove that the rascal had done any actual wrong.
Reaching the upper hallway, Dick looked at the dingy numbers on the still more dingy doors. Eighteen proved to be at the rear, where it was so dark he could scarcely see.
As the youth approached the door he heard a murmur of voices in the room beyond. He listened, and made out Cuffer speaking, and then he recognized the voice of Shelley.
"And so I dusted out before I had a chance to get any money from
Sobber," Cuffer was saying.
"Well, did the Rovers catch the young fellow?" questioned Shelley.
"That I don't know. If he didn't know enough to run away he is a fool."
"You say one of the Rovers followed you from the train?"
"Yes, but I gave him the slip as soon as I reached the Bowery," answered Cuffer with a chuckle.
"Well, what are we to do next?" asked Shelley, after a pause.
"There is nothing to do but to wait until tomorrow, when Merrick arrives."
"Have you any faith in this treasure hunt of his?"
"I have so long as he pays the bills. I wouldn't put a cent of my own money in it."
"Has he got enough money to see the thing through?"
"So he says. He met the captain of that tramp vessel somewhere and got him interested in the hunt by promising him a share of the find. He says as soon as he can get hold of a Spaniard who knows the exact location of the island he'll set sail."
"And take the Spaniard along?"
"Of course. The Spaniard was one of the chaps who originally took the treasure to the island."
"Well, where do we come in?"
"He wants us along because he is afraid the fellows on the vessel will make a fight for the gold and jewels when they are found. Some of those sailors are pretty bloodthirsty, you know. He says he is going to take at least four strong men whom he can trust."
Dick listened with keen interest to this talk, which revealed a great deal. Sid Merrick had made an arrangement to go on a voyage after the treasure! How soon he would start there was no telling, but probably as quickly as he could get ready. More than this, he expected to have with him the Spaniard, Doranez, the fellow who had said he was going to Spain to visit his relatives. More than likely Merrick and Doranez were in league with each other and would do all in their power to keep the treasure out of the hands of the rightful owners.
"If only Tom and Sam were here," thought Dick. "Or if only Tom has captured Tad Sobber. This is getting lively, to say the least."
The men were now speaking in a lower tone and he put his ear to the keyhole, to catch what they might say. Then, of a sudden, the door opened and he found himself confronted by Shelley.
"Thought I heard somebody in the hall!" cried that individual, and grabbed Dick by the arm.
"Let go!" answered the youth and tried to break away. But Cuffer came to Shelley's assistance, and between them the two men dragged the boy into the room and shut the door after him. Dick struggled vigorously even when in the apartment until Cuffer caught up an empty water pitcher and flourished it over his head.
"Make another move and I'll knock you senseless with this!" he exclaimed and the look on his face showed he meant what he said. Seeing his captors were too powerful for him, Dick subsided and was forced into a chair in a corner.
"Been listening to all our talk, I suppose," said Cuffer, uglily. He was angry to think that Dick had been able to follow him after all.
"I have," was the youth's bold reply. He felt nothing was to be gained by beating around the bush.
"It's a nice business to be in!"
"It is better than the business you are in."
"I don't think so."
"I do. You fellows are in league with Sid Merrick, and you know what sort he is."
"See here," interrupted Shelley. "Now we have him in here, what are we going to do with him?"
"You are going to let me out," said Dick.
"Perhaps we are," said Cuffer, and gave Shelley a significant look.
"Let us see if he's got any papers with him," suggested Shelley, and returned the look given to him by his companion.
The look meant that they would go through Dick's pockets and rob him. The men were thorough rascals and if the youth had anything worth taking they meant to have it.
"You keep out of my pockets!" cried Dick and started to rise from the chair in which he was sitting. Instantly both men grabbed him, and while Cuffer held him tightly from the rear, Shelley caught up a towel and gagged him. Then a bed sheet was used to tie Dick inside of a closet in a corner of the room.
"Listen, I think somebody is coming!" cried Cuffer, in sudden alarm.
"Keep the boy quiet!" answered Shelley and ran to the hall door just as a knock sounded upon it.
"What's the racket up here?" demanded the voice of the hotel clerk.
"Oh, we were only trying a vaudeville turn," answered Shelley, coolly.
"We have an engagement for next week."
"Well, stop that noise and don't break any of the furniture, or you'll pay for it," growled the clerk and went away. It chanced that actors occasionally stopped at the hotel and practised their parts. Shelley knew of this, hence the excuse he gave for the noise made in rendering Dick a prisoner.
As soon as the clerk had retired Cuffer and Shelley both paid their attention to Dick, and with great rapidity they went through his pockets, stripping him of his watch and chain, and twenty four dollars and a quarter in money. They also took a small diamond scarf pin and a ring set with a valuable ruby. In one pocket Cuffer found several letters and he likewise appropriated these.
"Not such a bad haul," was the thief's comment.
Of course, Dick did not submit willingly, but with a gag in his mouth, and his hands and feet tied tightly, he could do but little. As soon as the men had taken his things from him, they shut the closet door upon him and locked it. A few minutes later all became quiet, showing that they had left the room.
The closet was small and stuffy and in this warm weather made Dick perspire freely. But without waiting to make certain that the men were really gone, he commenced to work upon his bonds and the gag in his mouth.
It was no light task and it was a good quarter of an hour before he got one hand loose.
Then he freed his other hand and undid the troublesome gag, which had all but smothered him, and then unfastened his feet.
He was still a prisoner in the closet, the door of which was an old fashioned one and thick. But by bracing his feet against the back wall, Dick got a firm hold and soon his shoulder on the barrier caused it to bend and creak. Then the lock gave way and the door flew open with a bang.
A glance around the room showed that the men had flown, and for good, for two valises which had stood in a corner were missing.
Dick leaped to the hall door, only to find it locked from the outside.
"They must have gone that way," he reasoned, after a look out of the window, and then he rapped on the door loudly.
It was several minutes before anybody answered his summons. Then an ignorant looking chambermaid appeared.
"Phot does yez want?" she demanded, in a strong Irish brogue.
"I am locked in. Let me out," answered Dick.
After some fumbling, the chambermaid found her key and unlocked the door. She gazed at Dick in some surprise, for she saw that he was excited.
"Sure, I didn't know yez had that room," she said.
"Did you see the two men who had this room?" demanded the youth.
"I did not."
"They robbed me and ran away."
"Saints preserve us! Robbed ye? Of phat?"
"Of everything I had. Sure you didn't see 'em?"
"Not since this marnin'."
"Well, they must have just gone out," said Dick, and ran down the stairs and to the office. Here he found the place deserted, the clerk having gone down to the dining room for his supper, and nobody else being on duty. The clerk listened to his story with small interest and shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't see what I can do," he said. "We ain't responsible for our guests. You had better go and see the police. I hope you catch them, for such rascals give hotels bad reputations."
"Do you know the men at all?"
"No, never set eyes on 'em until a couple of days ago. Then they came in, hired that room, and came and went to suit themselves. One was named Brown and the other Smith—at least that's the names on the register."
"Those were fake names. Then you won't help me to catch them?"
"I don't see what I can do," answered the clerk, calmly. "We are not to blame for this, you can see that for yourself."
Dick could see, and after a few words more, he left the hotel, feeling very depressed in spirits. He spent an hour in looking up and down the Bowery for Cuffer and Shelley, but without success. Then, as it was getting late, he returned to the hotel at which he and the rest of his family were putting up.