said Mr. Rover. "I hope my boys have managed to steer
clear of the dangerous places."

They soon found they had to turn back, and now Bahama Bill frankly
declared that he was "all at sea," as he put it.

"Every landmark I knew has been swept away," he said. "All I can say
is, the cave is in that direction," and he pointed with his hand. "But
it may be buried out o' sight now," he added, dismally.

There was nothing to do but to retrace their steps, and this they did
as far as they were able.

They had covered about half the distance when they saw a shaft of
light shoot around the treetops near them.

"There is that strange light!" cried Songbird.

"Let us find out what it is!" added Fred.

They tried to follow the light and in doing this became hopelessly
lost in the jungle. Then one of the boys struck one of the oil
lanterns on a rock and smashed it, thus doing away with that much of
the illumination they carried.

"We must be careful," said Anderson Rover. "We are making no progress
so far as the treasure is concerned. We had better try to find our way
back to the shore, and try to find my sons." And this was agreed to by
all.

But it was no easy matter to get back to the shore, and an hour later
found them in a tangle of undergrowth. Aleck was ahead, accompanied by
Fred and Songbird.

"Hark! I heah something!" cried the colored man, presently.

"Somebody is calling!" cried Songbird.

"Maybe it's Dick and the others!" added Fred.

They called in return and then they fired off a pistol. There was a
brief silence and then came the call once more.

"Come on, dis way!" yelled Aleck, and plunged through the underbrush
with the boys following.

He continued to call and at last made out the voices of Dick, Tom and
Sam quite plainly.

"I'se found de boys!" cried the colored man in delight. "I'se found de
boys!" And he plunged on again until he gained the clearing where the
three lads were tied to the trees. With his pocketknife he cut their
bonds.

"Good for you, Aleck!" cried Dick. "I am more than glad to see you!"

"And so am I," added Sam and Tom in a breath.

Then the others came up, and the Rover boys had to tell their story,
to which the members of the second party listened with the keenest of
interest.

CHAPTER XXV

THE TRAIL THROUGH THE JUNGLE

"Sid Merrick is certainly in deadly earnest," was Mr. Rover's comment,
after the boys had finished their tale. "He means to get hold of t