"I cannot come over," he said. "And why not?" "I cannot leap the distance." "Then swim across." "The current is too strong. Besides, I have no more wish for your company than for the company of that snake which just disappeared." "Boy, you are a--a young scamp!" burst from Lemuel Hankers' lips. "Thanks, but I don't wish any of your backhanded compliments, Lemuel Hankers. I am not half as much of a scamp as you are a villain." "A villain?" "That's what I said." "Don't you dare to call my dad names," put in Bart, shaking his fist across the stream. "I overheard your plot," went on Dave, ignoring Bart. "It's a pretty piece of business for a gentleman to propose." At this Lemuel Hankers grew red and then pale. "You--you know too much, boy," he faltered. "Come over here, I say. Or shall I bring you?" "I don't see how you are going to bring me. You can't get over the stream any better than I can." "It's running very strong, dad," announced Bart, who had been testing the current with some chips. "I don't believe anybody can get across without a long plank. He must have gotten into the cave from the other end." "Then we can get in that way, too," put in Pete Rackley. "We ought to make him a prisoner," he added, in a low voice. "I don't think you will get in," thought Dave. "If you do, the chances are you won't come out alive." A short talk followed, which Dave could not hear. Then Pete Rackley left the cave on a run, to reappear a few minutes later with a good-sized tree limb which the storm of a few days before had brought down. "Now we'll get him!" cried Rackley, and threw the limb over the stream. Dave was much startled. He knew not what to do, for to retreat was impossible. Soon Rackley was over the underground stream, and Lemuel Hankers and his son followed. All three ran after the young diver, who retreated to the extreme rear of the cavern. Here Rackley caught him by the arm. "You had better submit quietly," said Rackley. "If you don't, it will be the worse for you." Dave saw at once that resistance was out of the question. They were three to one, and all armed, while he was unarmed, and still weak from his tumble and what had followed. "You have no right to make me a prisoner," he remarked, for the want of something better to say. "We'll take the right," said Rackley, with a wicked grin. "Didn't expect to see me here, after our little affair in the Washington hotel, did you?" he added. "Perhaps you'll get left now, as you did then," retorted Dave. Rackley produced a rope which he had brought in with the tree limb, and soon Dave's hands were bound behind him. "I have an idea," said Lemuel Hankers. "Why can't we leave him in this cave until both ships have sailed?" "Just my notion," answered Rackley. "You can feed him until the _Raven_ gets back, and he will be kind of company for you." "I'll feed him if he behaves himself," growled Pete Rackley.