"No buts about it. You do as I say or I'll put you in irons when we get back to the ship," the captain told him, but the boys caught the twinkle in his eye and knew that he was only bluffing. Evidently the Irishman caught it also for his look of fierce determination vanished and a good natured grin spread over his face.
"All right," he said. "Yer're the boss," and the captain let go his hold.
"We'll investigate this grove when we're better armed," the captain promised them as he started off again.
Once more it seemed to Jack that he caught the sound of laughter from back in the depths of the woods, but as none of the others seemed to hear it, he said nothing.
It was just eleven when, finally, they reached the other end of the island and stood on the edge of the cliff. Three or four times they had asked Mr. Lakewood what he thought about it being the right place during the walk from the grove. But he had refused to commit himself until they had reached the very end of the island.
"I think it's it," he said slowly, "but I'll knew for sure in a short time now. If I'm right there's a passage a short distance off there which leads down to the water and in that passage is the entrance to the cave of pearls."
"Let's go then," Jack said impatiently.
"At once," his uncle told him as he turned to lead the way. "Here it is for a fact," he declared a few minutes later as he stopped and pointed to a narrow defile which separated the cliff into two parts.
"Hurrah!" shouted both of the boys.
"Follow me, now, and be careful where you step; it's a bit rough if I remember rightly," their uncle said as he started down the narrow defile.