The party remained in the tree a while longer, and then, as there seemed nothing else to do, they descended to the ground.
"Well, we have one thing in our favor," was Dick's comment. "Sid Merrick and his crowd must be on the Josephine, or they wouldn't chase the Rainbow, and that being so they can't interrupt our treasure hunt, at least for the present."
"But if they capture our steam yacht how are we to get away from here, even if we do uncover the treasure?" said Sam.
"We'll get away somehow—and make it good and hot for them in the bargain," answered Tom, and his father nodded in approval.
With their thoughts on the Rainbow and those on board, the treasure hunters went back to the vicinity of the shattered cave. Nobody felt much like working, yet to remain idle made the time hang heavily on their hands.
"There is no use of our going to work in a haphazard fashion," were Mr. Rover's words. "We must first go over the ground carefully and plan out just what is best to do. Otherwise a good portion of our energies will be wasted."
This was sound advice and was followed out They surveyed the whole vicinity with care, poking in among the rocks with long sticks, and turning over such as were loose and easily moved.
