"I've a good mind to go down and have a look," said Bob, and insisted upon it despite old Jacob's protestations. But he learned nothing new. Then Don went down, followed by Leander.
The result was the same, and all were forced to believe that poor Dick had been carried off by the underground stream to a watery grave.
By this time Robert Menden was able to sit up, and though still weak, he insisted upon being told about what had happened.
"This is certainly bad," he said. "I suppose I can be thankful that I did not meet a similar fate."
"That's true," answered old Jacob. "But I am not going to give up yet."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Get a longer rope from somewhere and examine thet hole thoroughly. If I only git his body it will be better nor nuthin'."
The matter was talked over for a few minutes, and then old Jacob hurried off alone, to where they had left Joseph Farvel a prisoner.
A surprise awaited the old sailor. In some unaccountable manner, Farvel had become free, and had disappeared.
Under ordinary circumstances old Jacob would have begun an investigation but now other matters filled his head.