Noiselessly Dick and Peterson followed. As Dick advanced he drew his pistol.
Quarter of a mile was covered and they were close to the cave, when
Arnold Baxter suddenly halted.
"Dan, supposing Captain Langless doesn't come back," he exclaimed, loud enough for Dick and his companion to hear.
"Doesn't come back!" ejaculated the bully. "Why, he's got to come back."
"No, he hasn't."
"But I don't understand——"
"You know well enough that the Rovers tried to bribe the captain."
"Yes, but they ran away——"
"Perhaps it's only a bluff, Dan. The boys may have been taken to another part of the island, from which Langless can transfer them to the schooner later."
"What, and desert us!" groaned the bully.