Captors and captive had alike gone, no one could tell where.
A consultation was held, and it was decided to explore the cave before going back to the Dart.
The descent into the cold spot was not easy, and more than once a member of the party was in danger of breaking a leg.
The bottom reached they made their way to the place where the men had been at work with their axes.
They had cut out a square hole two by three feet and six feet deep.
Gazing down into the bottom of the hole, Bob gave a shout:
"The stone chest, as sure as I live!"
"What!" cried the captain.
He too looked into the opening.
There rested what at first looked to the a square stone of a whitish-blue color.