All three ran after the young diver, who retreated to the extreme rear of the cavern.
Here Rackley caught him by the arm.
"You had better submit quietly," said Rackley. "If you don't, it will be the worse for you."
Dave saw at once that resistance was out of the question.
They were three to one, and all armed, while he was unarmed, and still weak from his tumble and what had followed.
"You have no right to make me a prisoner," he remarked, for the want of something better to say.
"We'll take the right," said Rackley, with a wicked grin. "Didn't expect to see me here, after our little affair in the Washington hotel, did you?" he added.
"Perhaps you'll get left now, as you did then," retorted Dave.
Rackley produced a rope which he had brought in with the tree limb, and soon Dave's hands were bound behind him.
"I have an idea," said Lemuel Hankers. "Why can't we leave him in this cave until both ships have sailed?"