“This wasn’t here afore,” said the old tar, briefly.  He was so “stumped” he could scarcely speak.

“You are sure?”

“Dead certain.”

“Then this isle has undoubtedly been visited by an earthquake within the last few years.”

“Thet’s it, Mr. Rover.”

“Maybe the trail can be picked up on the other side of the hole,” came from Fred.  “Let us walk around.”

He and some of the others started to do so, but soon came to a place where walking became uncertain and dangerous.  Song bird went into one hole up to his waist and poor Hans disappeared entirely.

“Hellup! hellup!” roared the German boy.  “Bull me owid, somepody!”

Aleck was close at hand, and reaching down into the hole he got hold of Hans’ hand.  It was a hard pull, but presently Anderson Rover took hold, too, and between him and the colored man they got the German youth to the surface.  Hans’ face and clothing were covered with dust and dirt and he was scratched in several places,

“I dink I was goin’ t’rough to Chiny!” he said.  “You pet my life I vos careful after dis vere I valk, yah!”

“The earthquake seems to have left this part of the isle full of pits and holes,” 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.