Young Hunters in Porto Rico/Chapter 24
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CHAMBER OF BONES.
On they went, the flooring under their feet showing that a good deal of the rain had washed into the cavern.
Robert Menden was ahead with one torch, while old Jacob brought up in the rear with the second light.
Between, the boys were spread out in a semicircle, each looking with all his might for anything that might resemble a long, flat stone, with a cross and the three M's cut upon it.
Along with Dick trotted Dash, his ears up, as if as ready as any of them to make an important discovery, did it lay in his power.
A quarter of a mile was covered, when they reached the branch for which they were searching. In the meantime Robert Menden had left a trail of crushed rice, that they might thereby find their way back.
They now found it necessary to climb over jagged rocks as high as their heads and higher—laborious work which soon put all in a state of perspiration.
"I guess this is about as hard as working in a coal mine," said Don. "I hope the rocks come to an end soon."
"This flooring has been thrown up by an earthquake," observed Bobert Menden. "We must be careful, or somebody may fall through some fissure. And don't wander away, whatever else you do."
The boys promised to be careful. But Menden's warning was not needed, for in that gloomy spot they were perfectly willing to keep close to one another and could not have been hired to separate.
"I believe we are coming to the end of this branch," said Dick, half an hour later.
"There is a small opening to the left," replied the Englishman. "We will try that;" and as before, he led the way. A narrow passageway was passed, and they came into a round chamber fifty feet or more in diameter. From overhead the water dripped constantly, and curious spiders and black bugs ran hither and thither, as the party approached with their torches.
"Oh, my! Look!"
The cry came from Don, and was taken up by several of the others.
"We've struck a cemetery of bones," said Bob; and he was right. On all sides of the chamber were piles of bones, with here and there a row of skeleton heads!
"There must be nigh onto a thousand o' 'em," muttered old Jacob, as he surveyed the scene, "Never saw sech a tarnal sight in my life!"
"It's certainly a grim spectacle," returned Robert Menden. "I wonder how they happened to place these bones here?"
No one could answer that question. They hunted around for bits of clothing and jewelry, but none came to sight.
"This ain't to my taste," said old Jacob—"let us go on;" and on they went to a small cavern beyond.
Here the air was foul and unwholesome, and even the torches refused to burn, saving with a yellow, uncertain light.
"We can't stand much of this," said Leander. "I feel as if I was in a tomb."
He had scarcely spoken when Dick pointed out some bones lying in a corner of the chamber. Coming closer, they made out the skeleton of a man. Beside the bones lay several patches of clothing and a pair of old-fashioned iron-rimmed spectacles.
"That man lost his life here, sure," said Bob. "Look; one of his leg-bones is broken in half."
"More than likely he broke his leg and found it impossible to walk further," said Don. "And then I suppose his light and food gave out, and he starved to death. Horrible!"
"I don't want to see any more of it," said Don, shuddering. "I guess he was an old man, otherwise he wouldn't have had those iron-rimmed spectacles. I suppose that skeleton has been here for a dozen years."
Dick was bending down over the bones, having seen something shining near one of the fleshless hands. He picked the object up and found it to be a long, flat, brass key.
"A key!" cried Robert Menden. He took the thing from the youth, and held it close to the torch. "By the queen!"
"What's up?" came in a chorus.
"See! The key is marked M. M. M. on one side!" And he pointed out the initials.
"It must belong to the treasure box!" ejaculated Dick.
"Hurrah! We're gittin' closer to dat prize!" burst out Danny, and shook his bullet-like head enthusiastically.
All examined the key with interest. It was a little rusted at one end, but still good enough to use if the cedar box was brought to light, as Dick declared.
"We are on the right trail; I feel certain of it," said Menden. "For that old Spaniard mentioned a pile of bones to me."
"I wonder if Farvel has been here yet?" said Don.
"I think not—and I hope he doesn't come."
They moved on more slowly than ever. The foul air was now left behind and they gained a chamber where there was a steady current of cold air which made one and another shiver.
"What's that?" said Don, of a sudden.
He had heard a strange sound, and now they all noticed it.
"Is it somebody moaning?" gasped Leander.
"It certainly sounds like it," said old Jacob.
"Perhaps it is Farvel in trouble," suggested Bob.
The moaning rose and fell, as if a person was in great pain and unable to cry out loudly.
"Where does it come from?" was Dick's question.
No one was able to answer, and they stood in a mute crowd, looking at each other. Danny gave a shiver.
"I don't like dat nohow," he whispered.
"No more do I like it," muttered Leander. "It sounds like a ghost!"
"Don't say dat, or I'll be fer runnin' away!" cried the Irish lad.
Dash put up his nose and added a long whine.
"Where is it, Dash?" said Dick. "Show it to us, old boy!"
The dog started forward, then stood stock still and showed his teeth.
There was another moan and then a hiss, and out of the gloom ahead shone two fiery eyes, moving slowly from side to side.
"Some beast!" shouted Robert Menden. "Have your pistols ready!"
He had scarcely uttered the words when a big cat shot past him and landed on Leander's left shoulder.
The creature was of the domestic specie, but evidently gone wild from hunger and loneliness.
"Help! take it off!" cried the boy, and tried to clear himself. But the cat hung the closer. Then it opened its mouth as if to bury its teeth in his arm.
A report rang out. Robert Menden had taken careful aim and fired. At once the cat gave a screech and tumbled to the ground, where it lay writhing and moaning. Another shot put it out of its misery forever.
The attack had taken Leander's nerve away from him, and the boy sank down on, a rock and shivered, while turning as white as a sheet.
"It was terrible!" he murmured. "Say, I'm for getting out of this!"
"Oh, don't talk that way, Len!" cried Bob. "The cat's dead now, you know."
"But there may be more of them."
"I think not. She probably got in here by accident."
"And then that dead body, too!"
"I don't believe there are any more of those either."
"To be sure, it was very unpleasant," put in Robert Menden. "But it will have to be something far worse to turn me back."
"And me," added Dick. "I am going to stick to the hunt to the end."
And five minutes later the whole party went forward once more. But Leander kept close to old Jacob, and carried his pistol where it could be brought into instant use if required.