“The water is making its way in and will run forward as far as its level.  She’ll break up with all that water in her, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go any time.”

In fact as they lay there watching the boiling waters over the sunken vessel, they saw them become more greatly agitated and Percival pulled away to a safer distance as the agitation increased.

Then of a sudden the stump of a mast sank into the water, there was a still greater agitation and a mass of broken timbers shot up into the air and then fell back, and went floating away on the tide.

“That’s about the last of her,” said Captain Storms, “or, at any rate, you won’t go into the cabin again.  You’ve made your last visit to the wreck, and if any one ever gets that money he’ll have to dive for it.  You can be thankful that you went there when you did.”

“So I am,” said Jack.  “Come on, Dick, pull away from here.”

CHAPTER X

A THRILLING ENCOUNTER

Returning to the yacht first for the captain to get aboard, Jack and Percival then took the boat and went to the outer bay on a little exploring trip of their own, the rest not caring to make any more explorations at that time.

The boys guided the boat along shore not too near the rocks, both keeping watch for any nook which might prove of interest or afford an opportunity for an adventure of any sort.

There was a short, keen-bladed hatchet to cut their way through the thicket if necessary when they went ashore, and Percival had a rifle with which to shoot any game they might come across, both being placed on one of the forward thwarts.

Jack was provided with his pocket flashlight in case they went into dark places, and Dick had a revolver in his pocket, declaring that this might be of as much use as the torch in case they came to close quarters with an enemy, no matter of what sort.

As they were rowing at a lazy rate, keeping up a slow, even stroke, Jack, who was keeping a lookout on the shore and steering at the same time, suddenly said, looking toward a mass of rocks which they had just come abreast: 

“There looks to be a sort of cave in there, Dick.  At any rate, there is a hole which seems to run in to some little distance.  Suppose we explore it and see how far we can go.”

“I’m in for anything that you are, Jack,” replied Dick.

“All right, pull ahead, not too fast, and we’ll have a look at the place.”

“Pull ahead it is, Jack.”

Jack was in the bow and he now steered the boat toward the opening in the rocks, which was quite big enough for them to enter, and they went on at a slow, steady gait, presently gliding into the water cave, for such it seemed, with plenty of room above and on both sides.

Jack turned his head now and then to see how they were progressing and if there were any obstructions in the way, and presently said: