“Have you received any more letters?” asked Dick.
“No. But I’m expecting one every day. Those fellows are probably as anxious as we are. They’ll want to get their money and most likely get out of the country—maybe going down into Mexico where we can’t get at them.”
“I don’t like it, Tom, that you haven’t got more word,” and now Dick’s face showed deeper anxiety than ever. “Those fellows may have got cold feet on the whole proposition and done away with the boys.”
“That may be so, Dick,” and Tom’s voice took on a tone of hopelessness. “I wouldn’t put it past Davenport and that gang to do anything. I only pray to Heaven that the boys may still be alive.”
CHAPTER XXVII
PRISONERS IN THE CAVE
Meanwhile, what of the four Rover boys and their captors?
Bruised and bleeding, the lads had been thrown into the rear part of the stony cavern, as already mentioned. The ropes which had bound them had been taken away, but they were prisoners behind heavy logs kept in place by strong chains.
Fred was so weak he was unable for the time being to stand, and so slipped down in a heap in a corner with his back against a big stone. There Andy followed him, nursing a wounded shoulder where he had been struck with a club. Randy and Jack had also suffered, the former having one arm severely wrenched in the mêlée at Longnose’s cabin and the young major suffering from several cuts on the forehead and on his chin.
“Now then, you boys behave yourselves and rest a while, and then we’ll have a talk,” announced Davenport, and he and his gang went outside, leaving the boys alone.