But now, David shook his head decisively.
“No,” he declared. “Roy’s ears are mighty sharp, and we talked loudly enough in the launch to be heard a mile—specially Billy. If Roy had been anywhere on the island, top of the ground, he’d have heard us then, and have come a-running.” David’s expression changed to one of perplexity, in which alarm mingled. There was a new note of anxiety in his voice as he concluded: “And, if he was anywhere about this place, he’d have heard us, too, and have come a-running. And the lantern here—” David’s big eyes, shining weirdly through the lenses, went from one to another of the three men before him, as if seeking help against the trouble growing within him.
“There’s some mystery here,” Saxe exclaimed. Anxiety sounded in his voice. “We must search the cavern at once—for him. We already know he’s not in this room. We’ll look through the two passages that run down under the lake. Come on, Jake. You and I’ll take the one on the right.” He called over his shoulder to his friends, as he hurried forward: “You two take the passage on the left. If you find him, try to make us hear.”
It was David who found Roy, for impatience sent him far in advance of plodding Billy Walker. By the light of the lantern, David made out the huddled form lying on the floor of the passage, just at the turning. He ran forward with a cry of grief, and knelt beside the body. It had come to him in a flash that the event was more serious than anything he had apprehended. Masters had at last gained a victim. With the lantern set on the floor close at hand, David raised the body, which had been lying face downward. As he did so, he perceived the creased brow, with its matting of blood, now dried to a ruddy black. For an instant, David was stricken with a great fear lest his friend be dead. But, as he rested the head against him, a soft moan breathed from the lips, and at the sound hope sprang alive. He sent forth a shout, and Billy Walker, who was near, came running—for the first time in many years. No sooner had he learned of the injury to Roy than he set himself to summoning the others, and the vast voice rang thunderous through the subterranean ways. The mighty volume went rolling in sonorous waves throughout this secret place of the earth, penetrating every cranny and devious winding nook. Saxe and Jake felt the smiting of it on their ear-drums, and came racing through the break and into the passage whence the roaring issued. Even the unconscious man was not impervious to the gigantic din, he groaned, and his eyelids unclosed. David raised a hand for silence, and Billy Walker halted abruptly in his vociferation, his mouth wide. But, for a long time, the echoes clanged helter-skelter.
When Saxe and Jake came, they with David lifted the sufferer, and bore him along the passage, while Billy went before, bearing the four lanterns. In this manner, they were able to make rapid progress, and soon Roy was placed comfortably on the turf of the ravine, just outside the cavern entrance, with a coat to pillow his head. David brought water in one of the vessels from the hamper in the launch. Billy Walker, however, bethought himself of a flask which he had, and a little sup of the spirits was got into the wounded man’s mouth. The effect of the stimulant was apparent almost at once. More was administered, with such excellent results that soon Roy’s eyes opened, and his lips moved in a vain attempt to speak. A moment later, he made a feeble movement, as if to sit up. Saxe assisted him to a reclining posture. When the flask was proffered a third time, the sufferer was able to swallow a considerable portion of the liquor. David now appeared with the water, of which Roy drank thirstily. He remained quiet while David bathed his forehead, and, after it had been thoroughly cleansed, soaked a handkerchief in the whiskey, and bound it over the wound. Then finally, Roy spoke intelligibly.
“The damned skunk got me!”
“Masters!” Saxe repeated the name mechanically. There was no need to question—all knew.
Roy nodded assent; and his jaw moved forward, a bit tremulously, but none the less a proclamation of his mood.
David shook his head, in frank astonishment over the outcome of the encounter between the two men.
“Didn’t suppose he was quick enough on the draw to get you,” he said, dispiritedly. “Huh!”