They were all tired of inactivity. Mr. Jenks managed to
get through the opening, and dropped into the big cave. The
others followed. Mr. Jenks hurried over to the steel box, and
began an examination of it. Tom Swift was looking at the
electrical switch. He saw how it was constructed. Mr. Damon and
Mr. Parker were peering interestedly about.
Suddenly the sound of voices was heard, and the echo of
footsteps. Mr. Jenks started.
"They're coming back!" he whispered hoarsely. "Run!"
They all turned and sped toward their hiding place. But they
were too late. An instant later Folwell, Munson and the other
diamond makers confronted them. Our friends made a bold rush, but
were caught before they could go ten feet.
"We have them!" cried Munson. "They walked right into our
hands!"
It was true. Tom Swift and the others were the prisoners of the
diamond makers.
CHAPTER XXIII--BROKEN BONDS
"Well," remarked Tom Swift, in mournful tones, "this looks as
if we were up against it; doesn't it?"
"Bless my umbrella, it certainly does," agreed Mr. Damon.
"And it's all my fault," said Mr. Jenks. "I shouldn't have gone
into the big cave. I might have known those men would come back
any time."
The above conversation took place as our friends lay securely
bound in a small cave, or recess, opening from the larger cavern,
where, about an hour before, they had been captured and made
prisoners by the diamond makers.
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