"
"Right you are, Captain," assented Ben, "and here goes!"
With a mighty swing of his pick the former prospector dislodged a
pile of the rough stones of which the cairn was composed and the
boys, too, laid on with a will. In an hour or so all that was left
of the once lofty cairn was a few big rocks.
Excitement ran fairly to fever heat as the last obstruction that lay
between the adventurers and the ivory hoard was cast aside.
In a few minutes now, if all went well, they would be in possession
of the treasure. More than once as they worked, Frank drew his
field-glasses out of their case and scanned the surrounding
wilderness of rocky chasms and swept the green jungle that lay
stretched like an emerald ocean far below, but each time he replaced
them with a sigh of relief. So far there was no sign of any rivals'
approach, although Frank well knew that by this time Muley-Hassan
must be upon his way to contest the boys' claim to the ivory.
As the last stone was chucked aside with a mighty heave by the
combined forces the perspiring adventurers broke into a hearty cheer.
Beneath it was a wooden trap-door which had a ring placed in the
middle evidently for the purpose of lifting it. Frank gave it a
heft, but the weight was too much for even his wiry muscles; but
when Ben and, Harry assisted him the door gave with a jump that
threw them all to their feet.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124