It was a long and tedious journey to where they had left Carlos Remora, and when they reached the spot the Porto Rican was nowhere to be seen.
"I'll wager he heard the downfall of rocks and made up his mind that we were all killed," said Leander; and he hit the nail exactly on the head, as was later proven.
There was now nothing left to do but to find the mouth of the great cave alone. They proceeded with caution, not wishing to make any false turn.
"I see the opening!" cried Dick, at last. He was right; and ten minutes later they were scrambling out into the open air.
"Oh, how good it feels once more!" remarked Don, as he inflated his lungs. "It's all well enough to go down there and hunt for money, but I prefer the open air every time."
The sun was beginning to set in the west. To the southward, dark clouds were beginning to loom up. Old Jacob watched the clouds with care.
"What do you think of them?" asked Dick.
"What do you think, Dick?"
"I should say there was a good bit of wind coming and, maybe, some rain."
"And I should say you were right, lad; and both won't be long a-comin'," concluded the Yankee tar.