There was a groan in his voice as he uttered the word.
"What is it, Dave?" asked the senator's son, although he and Phil guessed the truth.
"It's the Carwith jewel-case," was the answer. "The very case that Mr. Carwith left with Mr. Wadsworth!"
"Are you certain?" demanded Phil.
"Yes, for here is the name, 'Ridgewood Osgood Carwith,' stamped in gold on the top."
"And empty," murmured the captain. "This looks bad," and he shook his head, thoughtfully.
"Maybe Jasniff and Merwell took the jewels from the case," suggested Roger, hopefully.
"It is possible, Roger. But—but—I am afraid the jewels are at the bottom of the ocean," answered Dave, and his face showed how downcast he felt.
"They might have taken the jewels and divided them between themselves," said Phil. "Maybe they put them in money-belts, or something like that. They might think that the sailors would rob them, if they saw the case."
"It's possible, Phil, and I hope you are right," answered our hero. But in his heart he was still afraid that the gems had gone to the bottom of the Atlantic.
"I think we had better climb to the top of
