CHAPTER XIX.THE WRECK.
When Andy made this startling announcement the treasure seekers abandoned their work to run with all speed to the beach where the statement could be verified by the evidence of their own senses.
Two boats were coming up the western shore of the island, both loaded nearly to the gunwales, and evidently heading for the place where the little party was standing.
“There’s no question about those being theDay Dream’stenders,” Jenkins said, after a long scrutiny. “White boats with gilt ribbons are not so plentiful in these waters that there can be more than two sets near here.”
“I suppose father has anchored further down the coast, and is coming up to look for us,” Gil said, in a tone of satisfaction.
The mate made no reply, but a troubled look came over his face, and this deepened into positive dismay as Andy said:
“It beats me why dey’s done gone anchored wid a fine breeze what would bring de yacht up hyar like a race hoss.”
“Perhaps they saw the blacks when the other boats left the island, and want to keep them in sight,” Nelse suggested.
This was not a very reasonable proposition, but Gil accepted it, since he could think of nothing better, and Jenkins stood silent and motionless until the occupants of the crafts could be distinguished. Then he muttered half to himself:
“If they have left the craft at anchor, not one has remained behind to look out for her, because the whole crew is here.”
Gil was about to ask what he meant, when they were hailed by Captain Mansfield from the leading craft.
“Ahoy on shore!”
“Ay, ay, sir!” the mate replied.
“Are the boys all right?”
“Sound and hearty, sir, and none the worse for havin’ stopped ashore a little too long. Where is the yacht?”
“Off Pearl Point in forty fathoms of water.”
“Is she wrecked?” Gil asked in dismay.
“I’ll give you the particulars when we get ashore,” Captain Mansfield replied. “It’s too hard work to tell much of a story while it is necessary to shout.”
“De voudoos done gone did it,” Andy said, in a low tone. “I ’lowed dis yere was gwine ter happen when I brung de charm ashore, but de captain ’sisted on some ob de crew cumin’, an’ it had ter be done.”
“I won’t lay it on the voudoos,” Gil replied, mournfully, “but it is certainly true that we’ve had nothing but bad luck from the moment we decided to hunt for the pirates’ treasure.”
“An’ you’se gwine ter hab wuss ef dis yere diggin’ iskep’ up. It’s a pow’ful bad plan ter fool ’round’ whar dem debbils hang out.”
The boys were not in the humor to discuss this phase of the affair at this moment. Both felt as if they were personally responsible for the disaster, because of having urged Captain Mansfield to allow them to spend a certain length of time on the island, and the knowledge that all hands would now be forced to remain at this place was far from cheering.
These gloomy thoughts were in their minds when the bows of the boats were run up on the sand, and after the first hearty greetings had been exchanged the brief story of the wreck was told.
After leaving her anchorage theDay Dreamwas headed down the coast for the purpose of running into Gonaive, where a commodious and safe harbor would be found.
The night was dark, the gale so furious that the little craft could not look up to it as she should have done, and a miscalculation as to the distance run caused her to be brought around just in time to strike the reefs west of Pearl Point.
By what, at that moment, was believed to be a rare piece of good fortune, she slipped off into deep water after the first shock, but the sharp coral had rent and torn her timbers so cruelly that all efforts to keep her afloat were useless.
It was possible to work her under the lee of the land, where she was sheltered, to a certain degree, from the angry blast, and the crew took to the boats, with suchsupplies as could be gotten at in the hurry and excitement of the moment, the jaunty little craft going to the bottom before they had had time to row more than a dozen yards from her side.
“When the gale partially abated we started for this island to satisfy ourselves that you were safe, and now I propose to make Cuba in one of the boats, taking with me a couple of men,” Captain Mansfield said, when his story was concluded. “We have got canvas enough for a small sail, and once at Havana there will be no trouble about chartering a craft to run over here.”
“Is it safe to go so far in the tender?” Gil asked, in alarm.
“The distance to the coast of Cuba is only seventy miles, and, with a fair wind, we should be able to make that in less than twenty-four hours.”
“But why not take all hands?”
“I would like to if our boats were large enough, but with these cockle-shells it couldn’t be done. The only question to be considered is whether you will be safe here. Tell me what happened after you landed?”
Gil gave his father a detailed account of their adventures, Jenkins and Andy adding to the story from time to time, and when it was concluded Captain Mansfield said:
“Andy’s idea of using the rockets was a capital one, and I don’t think we need have any fear the blacks will return for some time, but if they should, your crowd is large enough to resist an ordinary attack. I don’t expect to be away more than four days, and you can surely hold out as long as that.”
“Am I to go with you, sir?” Jenkins asked.
“No; you must stay here in charge of the party, and the boys are to obey your orders as they would mine. Now we will see what can be done toward getting breakfast, and then set about making ready for the voyage.”
Andy immediately took up the duties as cook, and while he and the boys went for a supply of shell fish, Jenkins and one of the sailors started in search of water, for, now that the party was so large, a greater amount of the precious liquid would be needed.
Captain Mansfield lost no time in making his preparations. He was desirous of taking advantage of the first fair wind, and therefore everything was done on this day. Even the water and provisions were put on board the tender, so that it would be only necessary to launch her when the proper moment should arrive.
It was yet quite early in the afternoon when the work was finished, and Gil urged his father to go with him and Nelse to the old palm.
“If we are to stay here three or four days there is no reason why we shouldn’t continue to hunt for the treasure, since it will serve to occupy the time, but Andy believes something terrible will happen if we do such a thing.”
“If you find any pleasure in digging, keep at it, by all means,” Captain Mansfield said, laughingly, “but I don’t care to walk even a dozen yards for the purpose of seeing an old tree. Andy’s foolish talk needn’t trouble you, for it is merest nonsense to think a voudoo can do more than any other person.”
Gil wanted to get his father’s advice as to the bestmethod of testing the correctness of the chart, but all pleadings were in vain.
The captain refused to make any suggestion whatever, and the subject was soon dropped, as the coming voyage was brought up for discussion.
During the afternoon one of the sailors walked several miles along the eastern and southern coast to make certain the blacks were not returning, and in the hope of sighting some sail, but both these missions resulted in the same manner.
No craft of any kind could be seen, and at an early hour all hands “turned in” on the sand, it being thought unnecessary to stand watch.
It was not yet daylight when the boys were awakened by Jenkins, who said, as they opened their eyes:
“The wind has come around from the south’ard an’ east’ard, and the captain is ready to start.”
The little tender had already been launched, and it was only necessary for the voyagers to step aboard.
At the last moment Captain Mansfield had decided to take but one of the sailors with him, in order that as large a force as possible might be left behind in case the blacks should return bent on mischief, and the remainder of the party stood on the beach to say good-by.
“We won’t go very strong on the parting business,” the captain said, as he saw by the faces of Gil and Nelse that they were considerably distressed because of his leaving. “With this wind we shall be on shore again by sunset, and the trip will be nothing more than child’s play.Keep together as much as possible, and remember that Mr. Jenkins is in command.”
Then he took his seat at the helm, the tiny sail was hoisted, and in a few seconds the little craft was lost to view amid the gloom.
Those who had been left behind set about getting breakfast, for the voyagers preferred to eat theirs in the boat rather than lose time by waiting on shore until a meal could be cooked, and when this very important portion of the day’s duties was finished the question arose as to what should first be done.
Jenkins sent Andy down the coast to watch lest the blacks should return unobserved, and then the boys proposed that they be allowed to continue the search for the supposed treasure.
To this the mate agreed after some slight hesitation, and once more the work of digging was begun, but on this occasion fathoms instead of feet were measured off, according to the suggestion of the sailor, who said:
“It don’t stand to reason that any decent pirates would put down figgers ’cordin’ to shore lingo. It’s fathoms, or I’m a duffer.”
Whether or no he was a “duffer,” both Gil and Nelse were willing to try the experiment, more especially since the first attempt resulted in such a signal failure, and when the bearings had been taken—this time accurately with one of the compasses saved from theDay Dream—the boys went to work in good earnest, assisted now and then by the men.
During an hour they labored industriously without havingseen anything to give encouragement, and just as Gil was on the point of saying that he had had enough of digging for supposititious gold, the spade struck something which gave forth a metallic sound.
“There’s more than earth down here!” he exclaimed, triumphantly, plying the tool with renewed vigor, and Jenkins leaped into the excavation as he cried:
“Upon my word, lad, I believe there’s something in that chart after all. Give me the spade until we see what’s below here!”
Now all hands were literally trembling with excitement, as the mate threw out the loose sand in a perfect shower, and when several fragments of decayed wood were disclosed each one believed the desired discovery was about to be made.