care.

The movement proceeded until nine o'clock, and during the night march
Muro had arranged a constant line of communication with John, through
his runners. A festival was in progress, and the two victims were
plainly seen by John when he and Muro went through the grass and
inspected the village.

The inaction of the whites had entirely disarmed the Tuolos. Indeed, as
afterwards learned, they began to think that fear prevented an attack on
their village, and no sentinels were posted to warn them of any
approaching foe.

While waiting for the return of John and Muro, Ralph and Tom also
wandered around the section surrounding the camp. They were in a valley,
on both sides of which were ridges running north and south. The moon
came out before ten o'clock, and they remembered some of the scenes
about them. They had been brought from the south through this identical
valley when they were captured by the Tuolos.

They were on the hillside, not five hundred feet from their camp, and
were about to descend the hill, when Ralph started back, and grasped
Tom's arm.

"What is that dark object directly ahead?"

The dark object was an opening into the hill, but as it was by the side
of a projecting rock, it had the appearance of an object. They looked at
each other for a moment in silence.

"I wonder if this is another cave, or the one John spoke about?" asked
Tom.

"No, that is on the east side of the village. We are below the village.
Do you think we had better make an investigation?"

"Yes; but I wish John was here. Come on; we have plenty of help here if
we need it."

The opening was approached as noiselessly as possible. It showed a
typical cave entrance, through solid rock, or, rather, through what
appeared to be a cleavage which had been spread apart. They had no
light of any kind, but the discovery was one which interested them,
because they knew of the treasure caves existing on the island, and two
of them, at least, were within their knowledge, and contained immense
hoards.

"Can you strike a match, so we can get some idea of it?" asked Tom.

"I am going to try it at any rate." So saying, the match was lighted,
and its beams penetrated the interior. In their eagerness the match was
muffled, and went out, but they caught sight of a huge white cross, far
beyond, and it seemed to be moving.

"Did you notice that?" asked Tom excitedly.

"Do you mean the cross?"

"Yes."

"It seemed to move up and down.