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.
By consulting a watch they found that it was after six o'clock; but they had brought supper along and ate this in preference to making their way out of the cave to their camp on the mountainside.
"Farvel must not be allowed to get ahead of us in this search," declared Robert Menden. "If he once got the treasure in his possession, the jig would be up, so far as we are concerned."
"It's queer we haven't seen anything of him to-day," said Dick. "He must be in the cave somewhere."
"There are so many branches we can easily keep apart," said Don. "It is like the branches of a great tree lying flat underground."
"And we are like ants looking for the right branch," laughed Bob.
"I feel it in my bones that we have the right branch here," put in Robert Menden.
"An' I feel thet way myself," added old Jacob. "I think we'll have thet treasure in forty-eight hours, or sooner."
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 sought-after 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?"