I doubt it."

When they got to the vicinity of the shattered cave they found
everything as they had left it. Even a pick Tom had forgotten remained
undisturbed.

"Evidently the Merrick crowd has not yet found its way here," said
Dick.

"We shall have to be on our guard when we go to blasting," answered
his parent. "For the noise may bring that rascal and his gang here in
a hurry."

And then all set to work with vigor to see if by some means they could
not get down under the rocks and to the spot where the precious
treasure had been deposited so many years before.

CHAPTER XXVII

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE STEAM YACHT

About an hour after the Rovers and Captain Barforth had left the steam
yacht Dora came from the forward deck looking much disturbed.

"What is the trouble?" asked her mother.

"Oh, not very much," she answered, for she did not wish to worry her
parent. "Where is Fred?"

"I think he is at the stern, fishing with Hans and John."

"I want to see them," continued Dora, and hurried off.

She found the three chums at the stern. They had been fishing for some
time and several fish lay on the deck near them.

"Hullo, Dora, want to try your luck?" asked Fred, pleasantly. "I'll
fix you a line--and fix lines for Nellie and Grace, too, if they
want them."

"I want to tell you boys something," said the girl, in almost a
whisper, and not noticing what Fred had proposed. "I-I am afraid
something is going to happen."

"What's that?" asked Songbird, and all three youths looked at Dora
anxiously.

"I was just up near the bow of the boat, and I overheard Mr. Carey,
the mate, talking to Mr. Bossermann, the assistant engineer. You know
I don't like those men a bit."

"None of us do," said Fred.

"Didn't ve haf a quarrel mid both of dem," added Hans.

"They were so in earnest that they did not notice me," continued Dora.
"I was going to walk away when I saw them, but then I overheard the
name of Walt Wingate and I turned back to learn what they were saying
about that bad man. It seems both the mate and the assistant engineer
have been talking to Wingate, and Wingate has made them an offer."

"Does Wingate want his liberty?" questioned Fred.

"Yes, and he wants more--he wants the mate and the assistant
engineer to help him to defeat Mr. Rover's plan to get the treasure.
He told Mr. Carey and Mr. Bossermann that if they would aid him he was
sure Sid Merrick would reward them handsomely."

"And wha