Dave Porter on Cave Island Part 50

Jasniff was made to march on deck, and there he was handcuffed like the other prisoners. He no longer pretended to have a toothache, but he did have a jaw-ache, from Dave's blow.

The most surprised man was Captain Hunker, and he readily told his story of how the Englishmen had hired him to take them to Cave Island and then call for them later. When Jasniff had appeared, with the smoked gla.s.ses and the bandage on his face, he had pitied the fellow but had not paid much attention to him. When Dave had fired his gun from the sh.o.r.e, Geswick had explained that other fortune hunters were on the island but that they wanted nothing to do with the crowd, so the master of the _Aurora_ had gone off without investigating.

Inside of an hour all of the interested parties had gone ash.o.r.e, and the three rascally Englishmen and Nick Jasniff were marched off by the officers of the law. Roger and Phil appeared and wanted to know the particulars of the capture.

"And what are you going to do next, Dave?" asked the senator's son.

"Get back to Crumville with the jewels, just as soon as I can get away. But I've got to arrange it with the police first."

"Aren't you going to send word ahead?" asked Phil.

"Of course. I'll send a cablegram to-day."

"Won't they be surprised and glad to get it!" murmured Roger.

"And maybe I'm not glad to be able to take the jewels back with me!"

answered Dave, his eyes glistening.

An officer had been sent to take charge of Link Merwell, who had been left on board the _Golden Eagle_. An hour later came word that Merwell could not be found. He had left the vessel in some mysterious manner, dressing himself in one of Dave's best suits before going. A little later Dave learned that Merwell had left San Juan for the interior of Porto Rico. The officers of the law said they would look for him.

The cablegram to Mr. Wadsworth was sent, and soon a reply came back.

Then came nearly a week of waiting for a steamer that would take the boys to New York. In the meantime matters were arranged with the authorities so that they could get away, and take the jewels with them. A detective accompanied them, to make certain that the jewels would be properly delivered, for the whole case was now in the hands of the law. Giles Borden remained in San Juan, to press his charge against his fellow countrymen. Captain Sanders remained in the harbor, to await orders from Phil's father.

"Sorry to part with you boys," said the captain, as he shook hands.

"Hope you'll sail with me again some day."

"An' sail with me, too," put in old Billy Dill, who was present, and as much interested as anybody.

"But not on such a mission as this has been," returned Dave.

"Nor to such a place as Cave Island," added Roger.

"For caves and pitfalls that island certainly was the limit," was Phil's comment.

The voyage to New York proved to be uneventful, and all of the lads were glad when it was over. Arriving in the metropolis, they lost no time in getting a train for Crumville, the detective going with them, and Dave carrying the precious jewels.

And then what a home-coming followed! All the Wadsworths and the Porters were at the depot to meet them, and everybody was br.i.m.m.i.n.g over with good feeling. Mrs. Wadsworth fairly hugged Dave, and Laura kissed him over and over again, and even Jessie could not resist the temptation to rush into his arms.

"Oh, Dave, to think you really got the jewels!" said Jessie. "Oh, I'm so glad! What a hero you are!" And she gave him a look that touched him to the bottom of the heart.

And then came Mr. Wadsworth, his voice shaking with emotion, and then Dave's father, and Uncle Dunston.

"One lad out of a million!" murmured the manufacturer. "Mr. Porter, you can well be proud of Dave!"

"And I am proud of him," replied the parent, heartily.

"We are all proud," added Dunston Porter.

In the excitement it must not be supposed that Phil and Roger were forgotten. While Dave related his story to the men, and delivered the jewels to Mr. Wadsworth, his chums had to tell about all that had occurred, to Mrs. Wadsworth and the girls. And the questions that were asked and answered would fill a chapter and more.

"And what will they do to Jasniff?" asked Laura.

"Undoubtedly put him in prison for a number of years," answered the senator's son. "And he deserves it."

"What a misspent life!" sighed Mrs. Wadsworth.

"And what about Link Merwell?" asked Jessie.

"I don't know what they'll do to him. Perhaps they won't catch him,"

said Phil.

"If they don't, I hope he turns over a new leaf and makes a real man of himself," said Laura.

Dave had gone to the jewelry works with the men, and soon Phil and Roger followed. Here the jewels were examined with care, being checked off on a list,-the duplicate of a receipt Oliver Wadsworth had given to the owner of the gems.

"Four stones are missing," announced the manufacturer. "And they are worth less than a thousand dollars. Dave, you certainly did well."

"We can get back at least two of those stones," answered Dave. "The p.a.w.nbrokers will have to give them up."

"Then the loss will be less than five hundred dollars-a mere trifle alongside of what it might have been. Dave, I'll not offer you a reward, for I know you won't take it. But I thank you, my boy, I thank you most heartily!" And Mr. Wadsworth caught Dave by both hands, while tears of emotion stood in his eyes.

"It saved us all from a tight place, if not ruin," added Dunston Porter.

"How is that old watchman?" asked our hero, to change the subject.

"You mean the man who was hurt?" asked his father. "He is about as well as ever."

"And have you heard from Hooker Montgomery?"

"Not a word, and we sha'n't need to, now."

"Any word from Oak Hall?" asked Roger.

"Yes, the place opened again last week."

"Then I suppose we'll have to get back once more," said Phil. "Well, we've had a long enough vacation,-if you can call it such," he added, with a grin.

"And such adventures!" murmured Roger. "We'll never see such strenuous times again, eh, Dave?"

"There is no telling, we may," answered Dave. There were still many adventures ahead, and what they were will be related in the next volume of this series, to be ent.i.tled, "Dave Porter and the Runaways; or, Last Days at Oak Hall," in which we shall meet our hero and his chums and enemies once more.

"If we are to go back to Oak Hall so soon, let us have all the fun we can," said Dave, after the matter of the jewels had been settled; and the next day he and his chums and the girls went out for a grand sleighride, for it was still winter at home, even though it had been like summer on Cave Island.

"Dave, are you glad to be back?" asked Jessie, while they were gliding over the snow.

"Yes, I am," he answered. "And doubly glad to be here, at your side,"

he added, in a lower voice.

"Oh, Dave, I was so afraid while you were away!"