The Baxters now passed along the footpath leading to the cave in which Tom and Sam had been placed.
Noiselessly Dick and Peterson followed. As Dick advanced he drew his pistol.
Quarter of a mile was covered and they were close to the cave, when Arnold Baxter suddenly halted.
"Dan, supposing Captain Langless doesn't come back," he exclaimed, loud enough for Dick and his companion to hear.
"Doesn't come back!" ejaculated the bully. "Why, he's got to come back."
"No, he hasn't."
"But I don't understand—"
"You know well enough that the Rovers tried to bribe the captain."
"Yes, but they ran away—"
"Perhaps it's only a bluff, Dan. The boys may have been taken to another part of the island, from which Langless can transfer them to the schooner later."
"What, and desert us!" groaned the bully.
"Yes, and desert us. I think we were foolish to leave the Peacock without taking the captain or Cadmus along. I won't trust any of them any longer."
"Well, what shall we do, dad; go back?"
