CHAPTER XXVIII AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POOL
At the announcement of Tad Sobber, Dick could only stare at the speakerfor the time being.
Was it really true that Dora's mother had married the disreputable JosiahCrabtree after all? It made his heart sick to think of such a state ofaffairs.
"You are telling me the truth?" he asked at last.
"Certainly."
"I don't believe you, Tad Sobber."
"Very well--you can ask Mr. Crabtree--and Mrs. Stanhope, when you seeher."
"If she married Crabtree she was forced to do it."
"No, she married him willingly."
"I'll never believe it. Where is she now?"
"I am not here to answer questions, Dick Rover. You and your brotherscame here I suppose to get the best of us. Well, you are nicely caught."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"You'll find that out before you are many hours older," answered Sobber,and turned away.
A quarter of an hour went by and the man who had met Koswell and theothers outside of the cavern came back.
"Well, Jim, what about the other Rovers?" questioned Tad Sobber.
"Safe enough," answered Jim Pally, with a grin.
"Where?"
"Down in the pool."
"They slipped in?"
"They sure did."
"I hope they won't drown," went on Sobber, uneasily.
"Oh, they are safe enough. I heard 'em swimming around until they foundthe rocks to stand on."
"Good enough. Now, what do you think we had better do with this one?"
"Why don't you make him join his brothers?" answered Jim Pally. And thenhe motioned Sobber to one side, out of Dick's hearing. A conversation ina low tone followed. Pally was telling Sobber they had better be onguard, since the Rovers might not be alone. Then he told of the meetingwith Koswell, Larkspur and Darkingham; and the two went off to consultwith Josiah Crabtree.
Left to himself, Dick tried his best to free himself of the bonds thatheld him. But the work of making him a prisoner had been done well, andall he did was to cut his wrists and his ankles.
When Sobber and Pally came back they were accompanied by Josiah Crabtree.The former teacher and jailbird wore the same dictatorial look as ofyore.
"Ha! so we meet again, Rover!" cried Josiah Crabtree, pursing up hislips.
"Mr. Crabtree, is it true that you have married Mrs. Stanhope?" askedDick, bluntly.
"Well--er--we are as good as married, yes," he stammered, taken somewhatoff his guard by the suddenness of the question.
"As good as married? What do you mean?"
"I mean she has promised to be my--er--my bride as soon as we can obtaina--er--a minister to perform the ceremony."
"You are forcing her into this marriage!"
"Not at all, young man, not at all! She is going to marry me of her ownfree will."
"I do not believe it."
"Ha! don't dare to talk to me in this fashion, Rover!" stormed JosiahCrabtree, glaring at the helpless youth before him.
"Will you let me speak to Mrs. Stanhope?"
"And poison her mind against me? Indeed not!"
"Where is she?"
"She is in safe hands."
"In your hands?"
"No, in the hands of a very estimable lady, who is doing all that ispossible to make her comfortable."
"Is she well?"
"She is--er--a little bit fatigued by her journey, that is all. She willbe quite herself after she has rested for a few days."
"Mr. Crabtree, you had no right to abduct her."
"Who says I abducted her? She accompanied me willingly, Rover."
"I do not believe that, and never will believe it. You mesmerized orhypnotized her, or something of the sort. I know your tricks of old."
"Ha! don't dare to talk to me in that fashion!" stormed Josiah Crabtree."Don't you dare to do it!" And coming closer he shook his fist in Dick'sface.
"You'd not do that if I were free, Josiah Crabtree!" cried the youth,defiantly.
"Say, we can't afford to waste time in talk!" interrupted Tad Sobber. "Ireckon the best thing we can do with this fellow is to make him join hisbrothers."
"And then--" went on Crabtree, and finished in a whisper which Dick didnot catch.
A few minutes later Dick was led back into the cavern towards the poolinto which his brothers had fallen. Sobber carried a torch, that threw aflickering light throughout the dismal underground opening.
"Help! help!" came faintly from the bottom of the pool, and looking downthose on the rocks high above saw Sam and Tom standing there, in water upto their knees.
"Hello!" cried Dick. "Are you all right?"
"We would be, if we could get out," answered Tom.
"Hello! It's the Sobber crowd, with Dick!" murmured Sam.
"I don't think they are going to aid us," returned Tom.
A few words passed between Sobber, Crabtree, and Pally, and then whiletwo of the evildoers held Dick the third cut his bonds.
"Now, then, you can join your brothers!" cried Sobber, and gave Dick ashove that sent him headlong. Down he came with a tremendous splash, andthen the waters of the pool closed over him.
"You cowards!" shouted Tom, in a rage. "I shouldn't treat a dog thatway!"
"You shut your mouth!" yelled back Tad Sobber. "It serves you right--forfollowing us."
"Some day you'll be in jail, Tad Sobber!" shouted Sam. "It's where youbelong."
All waited for Dick to come up, but second after second passed and theeldest Rover boy failed to appear.
"Something is wrong!" gasped Tom, in alarm. "Maybe his head struck on thebottom," cried Sam. "If he is dead, you'll pay the penalty!" he cried, tothose on the shore of the rocky pool.
All were worried, for those above had not expected anything of this sortto happen. They looked down, but could see nothing of Dick.
"I'm going to hunt for him!" cried Tom, and leaving the rocks upon whichhe was standing, he swam with all haste in the direction of the spotwhere his big brother had gone down. Seeing this, Sam followed hisexample.
"Perhaps we had better be getting out of here!" muttered Jim Pally,turning pale.
"No! no! let us see if they bring Dick Rover up!" answered Tad Sobber,hoarsely.
The firebrand was swung into a larger blaze and the glare cast on thewaters. As the rays lit up the weird scene, Tom set up a sudden shout.
"There he is!"
"Where?" demanded Sam.
"Over yonder! I just saw him bob up. Quick, Sam, before he goes to thebottom!"
The brothers swam to the spot indicated by Tom with all possible speed,and Tom made a dive under the surface. When he came up again he had holdof Dick's left foot.
"I've go--got him!" he gasped. "Hel--help me!"
For reply Sam ranged up by his brother's side, and between them theyraised Dick up and swam with him to the spot where the water was shallow.Then they stood there, in water up to their knees, supporting Dick asbest they could. The oldest Rover boy was all but unconscious.
"Going to help us?" yelled Tom, to their enemies.
"What's the matter with him?" asked Tad Sobber.
"Oh, I fancy he was only shamming!" came from Josiah Crabtree. "Come onaway."
"Don't you dare to leave us here!" cried Sam.
"Help us out," came from Tom. "It is your duty to do it."
"Not much!" answered Tad Sobber, with a sneer. "You can help yourself--ifyou can!" And with these words he walked away, in company with Crabtreeand Pally, leaving the Rovers to their fate in the water and thedarkness.
The Rover Boys Down East; or, The Struggle for the Stanhope Fortune Page 30
