"No, but I found myself in the company of two men who I am pretty sure belong to a gang of robbers. One of them I had seen before—at the East. They blindfolded me, and took me, to a cavern, where they left me in charge of a negro named Pompey."
"What could be their object?" asked Rawson. "You are sure you're not romancing, boy?"
"I wish I were, but the cave exists, just as certainly as I do."
"But of what use is it?"
"I think it is a hiding-place for their booty," answered Dean, and he gave an account of the chest which he had opened, and the nature of its contents.
"Why didn't you take a handful of the gold?" asked Rawson.
"At the time I didn't know but I should have to remain in the cave, when of course it would be discovered on me. Besides, though I knew it to be stolen property I didn't feel like taking it."
"Eben and I wouldn't be so particular. Whereabouts is this cave?"
"I think it must be three or four miles away, but I may be mistaken, for I got turned round, and may have doubled on my tracks. I have been afraid I might fall in with Kirby and Dan. When I heard your voices I thought at first it might be them."
"You're safe now, lad. We would be more than a match for them, even if they did turn up. I shouldn't mind giving them a lesson. But you haven't told us what brought you out here, lad."