The Lakewood Boys in the South Sea Islands by L.P. Wyman

They were walking slowly along listening with all their ears and keeping their eyes turned, for the most of the time, toward the grove. The captain was in the lead with Mr. Lakewood close behind him; then came Jack followed by Pat, while Bob brought up the rear. They had just passed the last of the trees when Bob felt the swish of some object as it flew past his head and landed on the back of the first mate's head with a resounding crack. That worthy at once pitched forward and fell face down. Bob sprang and turned him over at the same time calling to the others.

"Something hit him on the back of the head," he explained as they turned and rushed back. "It was that nut there."

Pat was unconscious but only for a minute. "Was it lightning? " he gasped as he struggled to his feet.

"No, it was nut," Jack grinned, but the hot-headed Irishman was in no mood to catch the pun.

"Whot was it thin," he demanded rubbing the back of his head.

"Someone or something threw this nut at us and hit you," Bob told him as he picked up the nut.

"An' it's meself as he can't do thot wid and git away wid it," he sputtered starting back toward the grove.

But the captain caught him by the arm and held him back. "Easy there now," he cautioned.

"Aisy me eye. I'm going ter git the spaleen whot threw thot nut, I'm tellin' yer."

"Not that way you aren't," the captain insisted easily holding the struggling mate. "Maybe it was a gorilla or an orang-outang and if it was he'd make mince meat of you if you go rushing in there."

"But -- "

"No buts about it. You do as I say or I'll put you in irons when we get back to the ship," the captain told him, but the boys caught the twinkle in his eye and knew that he was only bluffing. Evidently the Irishman caught it also for his look of fierce determination vanished and a good natured grin spread over his face.

"All right," he said. "Yer're the boss," and the captain let go his hold.

"We'll investigate this grove when we're better armed," the captain promised them as he started off again.

Once more it seemed to Jack that he caught the sound of laughter from back in the depths of the woods, but as none of the others seemed to hear it, he said nothing.

It was just eleven when, finally, they reached the other end of the island and stood on the edge of the cliff. Three or four times they had asked Mr. Lakewood what he thought about it being the right place during the walk from the grove. But he had refused to commit himself until they had reached the very end of the island.

"I think it's it," he said slowly, "but I'll knew for sure in a short time now. If I'm right there's a passage a short distance off there which leads down to the water and in that passage is the entrance to the cave of pearls."

"Let's go then," Jack said impatiently.

"At once," his uncle told him as he turned to lead the way. "Here it is for a fact," he declared a few minutes later as he stopped and pointed to a narrow defile which separated the cliff into two parts.

"Hurrah! " shouted both of the boys.