Harry had not forgotten them, and the boys smiled as John also drew forth several, and thus they entered the cave. John marched direct to the place where the wise men had their quarters, and their lamps were still burning.
"By the way, we came in too soon. Two of them are outside, or are somewhere in the cave. We want them as well as the others. If they find us here, they will be likely to get away. But we are here now, and we must find out what we can, and as quickly as possible." The lights at the habitable part of the cave were left burning and the three plunged into the passageway which led to the east.
"This is the cave noted in the chart. How fortunate it is. You will note that this, like the other cave, has also a cross-shaped formation, and the treasure should be at the south branch."
"Here it is," whispered George.
"What, the treasure?" was Harry's eager question.
"No; the south branch."
"You are undoubtedly right. There is no other opening."
This branch was followed less than a hundred feet, when a solid white wall appeared in front, and it was readily seen that the channel terminated in the chamber.
The floor of this chamber was one mass of uneven projections, entirely unlike the other parts of the cave, and what was more singular still, it was fully six feet higher than the floors of the other portions, but it was absolutely devoid of[p. 219] any treasure, or anything which could contain such a hoard as the chart seemed to indicate.