"I don't think so."
"Can they be from the Josephine?" asked Sam.
"That remains to be seen."
"If they are from the Josephine what shall we do?"
"I think the best thing we can do is to keep out of sight and watch them."
"But they may locate the cave and take the treasure away," said Tom.
"We have got to run that risk unless we want to fight them."
"Oh, if only we could get our crowd here to help us!" murmured Sam.
"We may be mistaken and they may be strangers to us. Come, let us hide."
Losing no time, the three Rover boys stepped into the bushes beside the trail. As they did so the other party came closer, and the lads saw that they carried not only an acetylene gas lamp, but also a ship's lantern and several other things. The party was made up of Sid Merrick, Tad Sobber, Cuffer and Shelley.