Both torches had burnt low, and now they lit fresh ones, which threw a brighter light on all sides. They were moving along in a row when the Englishman called a sudden halt.
"There is a wide crack in the rocks ahead," he declared. "Look out that somebody doesn't tumble into it."
"Does it lead to the lower caves?" asked Dick.
"I'm sure I don't know, Dick. We can throw down a stone and see."
Robert Menden was about to look around for a suitable stone, when a cry from Bob caught his ears.
"The tablet!" yelled the boy. "Look! look!"
All rushed to his side and gazed in the direction that he pointed out. Sure enough, there on the very brink of the crack Menden had located, was a long, flat stone. At one end of the stone they saw that a rude cross had been carved. At the other end were the much soughtafter initials, M. M. M.
"Hurrah! the treasure at last!" cried Dick, and felt like dancing a jig for joy.
"Where is the cedar box? I'm crazy to see how much it has in it!" put in Don.
"I guess we're all crazy for that," laughed Leander, his scare having been forgotten.
"It ought to be under the tablet," said Robert Menden. "Can the thing be lifted by hand?"
