As he spoke the ruffian flung the silver casket to the sand and then, with some gruff orders to his men, strode off across the beach. A few minutes later the splash of oars informed the marooned castaways that their foe had departed taking with him the gems they had gone through so much to save intact; and not only that, he took with him also their hopes of being rescued. From what he had said about the wireless, it was clear that he had intercepted the message for aid, and thus been guided to the island. The Sea King had not received word from them at all.
With what bitter feelings they reviewed the situation may be imagined. And it did not relieve the misery of their present position, as they lay gagged and helpless, to reflect that if they had kept a guard, the disaster might not have happened. They had been trapped like so many unthinking children.
CHAPTER XXV—“IT’S DEATH TO REMAIN HERE!”
Jack struggled and strained at his bonds, as, in fact, all the rest of the party were doing. To his delight, after a brief period of struggling, he managed to loosen them considerably. The work of tying up the party had been done hastily, and, consequently, the knots were not very hard to loosen. In fact, all that Herrera had wanted, was to keep them quiet till he had looted the treasure of the gems.
When Jack had worked his hands free he pulled the gag out of his mouth, and then, after undoing his ankle bonds, he drew out his knife and rapidly liberated his companions.
“Well, a fine mess I’ve made of it,” grumbled out Captain Andrews, as soon as he was free.
“I don’t see that you were any worse than the rest of us,” said Professor Chadwick; “in fact, it was you who had a keen enough mind to guess that our message might have been received and answered by another craft than the Sea King.”
“Which it was,” put in Mr. Jesson.
“Yes; but I kept watch for a while,” contritely said the captain, “and—I’m bitterly ashamed to say it,—I fell asleep at my post of duty.”
“For which we don’t attach a bit of blame to you,” said Professor Chadwick; “what we had passed through was enough to exhaust a giant. To tell you the truth, I almost feel relieved now that the gems are gone.”