Bill Renshaw considered a moment. Then he thrust out his hand, clasped that of Mr. Jenks, and exclaimed:
“It is. I'll take you into the cave by an entrance that's seldom used. There are four ways to get in. The one where the two men drove you back is the rear one. The front one is on the other side of the mountain, but it's so well concealed that you'd never find it. But I can take you to one where you can get in, and those fellows will never know it. And, what's more, I'll help you if it comes to a fight!”
“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Jenks. “I think we'll discover the secret of the diamond makers this time,” and he went to tell the others of the success of his talk. Bill Renshaw had been converted from an enemy into a friend, and the former phantom was now ready to lead Tom and the others into the secret cave.
“We'll start in the morning,” decided Mr. Jenks, who, after many disappointments, at last saw success ahead of him.
CHAPTER XIX—IN THE SECRET CAVE
Tom Swift was up at break of day, and the others were not far behind him.
“Now for the secret cave!” cried the young inventor as he gazed up the mountain, in the interior of which the mysterious band of men were making the diamonds.
“Have you made any plans, Bill?” asked Mr. Jenks of the former phantom, who had cast his lot in with the adventurers. “What will be the best course for us to follow?”
“You just leave it to me, Mr. Jenks,” was the answer. “I'll get you into the cave, and those fellows, who, I believe, are trying to do me out of my rights, as they did you out of yours, will never know a thing about it.”