“But what about them?” asked Tom. “Where are they? I haven’t seen a soul. Have they found the treasure and left?”
“I don’t believe so,” answered Dick. “They were around this morning.”
“What about Skeel and the hermit?” asked Tom.
“Oh, they’re around too,” said Jack. “They’re close after that treasure, or think they are. My! but they’re hot against you for getting that plan! It was the only one they had, it seems, and they’ve been working in the dark without it. That’s why they captured us. They thought they’d get you, too, I guess, and that you’d have the plan. You managed to keep out of their clutches, but they got us.”
“By sneaking up!” said Bert bitterly. “Say, that hermit is stronger than I gave him credit for. He tackled me, and Skeel went for Jack. Then Sam and Nick handled Dick.”
“They wouldn’t have, only they stunned me with a blow first,” declared the village lad.
“Anyhow, they got us,” went on Jack, “and brought us here. We’ve been here ever since. What happened to you, Tom?”
“Lots of things. I’ve got my boat back.” And Tom told his chums of his adventures. “We’ll soon be out of here,” he added. “I have the boat hidden, and we’ll make a quick run back to camp.”
“What about the treasure?” asked Bert.