The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave Part 21

"It's probably full of gold," exclaimed George excitedly. "Gold is awfully heavy."

"Calm yourself, Pop," said Grant, but he too, was excited. In fact, the strange cave and the chest suggested all sorts of things to the four youths. What if they should find that the chest was full of money?

Stranger things than that have happened.

"It certainly sounded hollow in spite of all you say," remarked Fred.

"See if all four of us can't get hold and move it." He kicked it once more and again the weird sound rang through the cave.

"Don't do that, Fred," begged George. "It gives me the s.h.i.+vers."

"Get hold here then," exclaimed Fred.

The combined efforts of the four boys did not even slightly move the great chest. It was an awkward thing to handle, however, as well as very heavy.

"Perhaps it is empty after all," remarked Grant, as they all paused to regain their breath. "A chest as big as that would weigh a lot all alone."

"Maybe," admitted Fred. "At any rate I say we get it out on the ledge in front there where we can have a good look at it."

"That's the idea," exclaimed George. "We can get it there if we all help. Everybody get to work here now!"

Pus.h.i.+ng and hauling, grunting and groaning the young castaways bent to their task. Little by little the great iron chest was moved closer and closer to the entrance of the cave. The sweat poured from the boys in streams and their arms and their backs ached. They would not give up, however. The lure of treasure had them in its grasp and they were determined to find out just what the contents of this chest were if such a thing were possible.

"Just a little more," urged Grant, and with one final effort the chest was pushed out onto the ledge of rock in front of the cave.

For a few moments the boys were too exhausted to do more than stand around puffing and gasping for breath. Such a task, combined with the heat of the tropics, would tax the strength and endurance of the hardiest.

"Now let's open it up," exclaimed Fred. "Where's the top?"

"It's over on its side," said Grant. "Here's the top and it's padlocked."

"So it is," said Fred disappointedly. "What can we do?"

"Get a rock," directed Grant. "It's pretty well rusted and by hammering it we may be able to break it."

A suitable rock was quickly found and an attack begun on the padlock.

Grant pounded away for dear life, while the others stood around and watched him. After a few moments he stopped to inspect the result of his efforts.

"Think you can do it?" inquired John.

"I don't know," said Grant. "I think I made a little impression on it, but it'll take some time."

"Well, I'm going back into the cave," announced John. "I'm going to inspect that patch of light back there. When you get the box open, yell at me."

He disappeared in the dusk of the cave while his three companions took turns at hammering the lock. It was stubborn, but was beginning to show some signs of yielding and the boys stuck manfully to their task. They seemed to be on the verge of succeeding when a great commotion inside the cave suddenly arrested their attention.

A moment later John burst forth. His face was ashen and his eyes bulged wide with fear. His hands shook as if he had the ague and his breath was almost gone.

"What is it, John?" demanded Grant in alarm, while Fred and George also crowded around the frightened boy. He had evidently received a terrible shock of some kind and his three companions were greatly affected by his appearance.

"What's the matter?" exclaimed Grant anxiously, but all that John could do was to mumble incoherently and point towards the interior of the cave.

CHAPTER XIV

AN ODD DISCOVERY

"John!" begged Grant. "Tell us what's the matter."

John, however, was in no condition to say anything. He s.h.i.+vered and shook, and kept glancing fearfully at the entrance to the cave as though he expected some great ogre or dragon to emerge any moment.

"Watch that cave, Pop," directed Grant. "Perhaps we'd better get out of here."

"Can't you talk, John?" exclaimed Fred. "Tell us what the trouble is."

John gulped and swallowed hard a couple of times. He pointed towards the cave and his lips moved, but no sound that resembled a word came from his ashen-colored lips.

"Come on, John," coaxed Fred. "You're all right. Tell us about it."

John made another great effort. "That man," he managed to gasp.

"'Man'!" cried Grant. "What man?"

"I saw a man," said John and then he fainted.

"This is a mess," exclaimed Grant in dismay. "What shall we do?"

"He saw a man," said Fred in alarm. "Who could it be?"

"How do I know?" said Grant testily. "Are you watching that cave, Pop?"

"I certainly am. Hand me one of those rocks."

The three boys stood on the narrow ledge of rocks in a quandary as to what course they should pursue. Below them was the steep, rocky incline of the hill and behind them was the cave containing they knew not what.

At their feet lay their comrade, unconscious and helpless. It was a situation that would have worried the oldest and most hardened adventurer.

"We've got to get John away from here," said Grant at last.

"We can't do it," objected Fred. "We can't carry him down this hill."

"But suppose we're attacked," said Grant dolefully.

"We'll have to run that risk."

"I'm going into the cave," George announced suddenly.

"Pop!" cried Grant in alarm. "You stay where you are."