CHAPTER XVIII.TREASURE HUNTING.
In this world, when one desire has been satisfied another springs up, as the boys learned after eating a hearty supper, for as soon as their hunger was appeased both felt the necessity of slumber.
“It seems as if I hadn’t been to sleep for a week,” Nelse said, with a yawn, as he stretched himself out at full length where the bushes would screen him from the wind.
“There is nothing to prevent your getting all you want now,” the mate replied. “So scoop in a full supply.”
“Don’t you think it is necessary to stand watch?” Gil asked.
“Andy and I will attend to that business.”
“But we ought to do our share.”
“If we are here to-morrow night, you shall take your turn at it; but just at this time it is important to keep a sharp lookout, and, tired as you boys are, I wouldn’t like to trust the matter in your hands.”
“You needn’t be afraid of our going to sleep when it is necessary to keep awake.”
“There are some things a fellow can’t prevent, no matter how good his intentions may be, so we won’t waste any more time in a discussion.”
Jenkins spoke in such a decided tone that the boys understoodit would be useless to continue the conversation, and in a very few moments both were sleeping soundly, while the mate and Andy stood most vigilant guard.
Several times during the night the rustling of the leaves or soughing of the wind caused the watchers to make short excursions from the camping-place to learn if the enemy were in the vicinity; but nothing of an alarming nature was discovered, and when Gil and Nelse awakened the general condition of affairs was such as to give them renewed courage.
The windstorm had cleared away, the sun was shining brightly in an unclouded sky, and the morning breeze was sufficiently strong to admit of the yacht’s working her way up the coast.
“Father should be here before sunset!” cried Gil, as he sprang to his feet.
“You are right, my boy,” the mate said, cheerily. “I allow that she’ll be at the old anchorage, if the breeze holds, before three o’clock.”
“Have you seen anything of the voudoos?”
“Not so much as a hair. Andy’s just about starting off now to learn if they have gone back to the cave.”
The old darky, who was standing near making his preparations for the journey, did not speak. The expression on his face told how grave and dangerous he considered the mission to be, and at such a time he evidently believed it beneath his dignity to enter into conversation.
The precious rockets he was fastening over his shoulder were to be used in case of a great emergency, andthe boys noticed that he frequently pressed the bosom of his shirt, as if to assure himself of the safety of some object.
“I’ll bet he has got his charm there,” Nelse whispered to Gil. “I’ve noticed that he keeps his hand over that portion of his shirt more than half the time.”
“We’ll make him show it to us when we get on board the yacht once more.”
“Be careful of yourself,” Jenkins said, in a low tone, as Andy turned to leave the camping-place. “Don’t use the rockets unless it is absolutely necessary, and come back as soon as possible.”
“Dere ain’ much danger ob my lingerin’ ’roun’ whar dat crowd is,” the old man replied, as he disappeared among the foliage.
“Now, boys, I’m going to skirmish for some oysters,” Jenkins said, when they were alone. “Here is one of the revolvers, and in case of any trouble, fire two shots; but don’t expose yourself by leaving this thicket.”
“Haven’t we got enough for breakfast without your leaving us?” Nelse asked.
“No; our appetites were too good last night for anything to be left over from the small amount we managed to get from the niggers. We can——”
“Bress de Lawd!” Andy shouted, in a loud tone, from a distance, and, as the little party ran in the direction indicated, they heard him cry:
“De hull bilin’ ob dem debbils am makin’ fur de odder islan’ as fas’ as dey kin row. De rockets done gone did it!”Hardly daring to believe the good news, Jenkins and the boys kept on at full speed until they were at the beach, where a view of the sea to the westward could be had, and then their excitement was little less than that displayed by the old darky.
Far away on the water were three boats, one of them probably theDay Dream’stender, loaded with men, who were working at the oars vigorously, and there was no longer any question but that their enemies had been literally frightened away.
“De fiery sarpents was too much for dem!” Andy cried, triumphantly, as he went through with a series of contortions, evidently intended as a dance of joy. “We’se done gone got de hull islan’ fur ourselbes.”
“It isn’t well to show them that we are nothing more than men,” Jenkins said, as he pulled the old darky into the thicket. “If they get an idea it was only a trick, we may have our hands full before the yacht can come up the coast. The boys and I will go for something to eat, while you keep them in sight until they land on Hayti. Keep just inside the thicket so you can’t be seen.”
Andy threw off the burden, for the rockets were useless, now the blacks had abandoned the island, and obeyed the order given, while the others went toward the northern coast, where they would be screened from view of those in the boats.
Here plenty of shell fish were found, and before the old darky returned a most appetizing breakfast had been cooked.
His report was decidedly encouraging. He had seenthe blacks land on the adjoining island, and watched the boats sufficiently long to assure himself that there was no danger of an immediate return.
“Dey’s done gone runned off fur erwhile,” he said, in a tone of satisfaction, “an’ we’se gwine ter lebe dis yere place erfore dey wants ter cum back.”
“Did you see anything of the yacht?” Jenkins asked.
“Not a hooter; I reckon she’s done gone ’round de udder side ob de islan’, an’ we’se gwine ter see her when she’s lettin’ go de cable.”
“I reckon you’re right, Andy, and since there’s nothing more to fear, we can spend the time as we choose.”
“If that is the case,” Gil said, in a serious tone, “Nelse and I want to make one search for the treasure.”
All Andy’s fears were aroused at this mention of the pirates’ gold, as could be told by his face; but he made no other protest than to say:
“We’se bin in all dis yere trubble jes’ on ’count ob dat, an’ it stands to reason we oughter lebe it go.”
“But what harm will be done, if we spend the time while waiting for the yacht in searching for it? When she arrives we shall go on board, whether anything has been found or not, and there can surely no trouble come of that.”
The old darky made no reply, but he shook his head in an ominous manner while his hand rested on his shirt, under which the boys believed the famous “charm” was hidden.
“Have you got the chart?” Jenkins asked.For reply, Gil took the piece of paper and strip of wood from his jacket, saying, as he handed them to the mate:
“The blacks didn’t think these were of sufficient value to steal, otherwise we might have been obliged to give up the search almost before it was begun.”
“An’ dat would er bin a mighty good t’ing,” Andy muttered, without so much as turning his head.
For at least the twentieth time the mate pored over the document, and then he said:
“Suppose we have one try for it. That can surely do no harm, and it will serve to occupy our time while waiting for the yacht.”
As may be supposed, the boys were more than willing to act on this suggestion, and Jenkins immediately began making preparations for moving the small amount of stores to the place where they had so nearly met their death.
Andy assisted in the removal, but it could be seen that he was far from being pleased with the proposition, and nothing but a wholesome fear of the mate prevented him from giving words to that which was in his mind.
“I take it that the letters ‘F’ and ‘S’ are the initials of the man’s name who drew this thing,” Jenkins said, when they were at the old palm. “We’ll allow that, at all events, an’ try for the course as marked out—18—8 North, and 5 West from the tree.”
“Will you take it in feet or fathoms?” Nelse asked.
“Feet, as a starter, an’ if the yacht hasn’t hove in sight after we’ve dug at that spot, it won’t do any harm to try fathoms.”
“But without a compass you can’t be positive as to the direction.”
“It’s so early in the morning that the sun will serve us for that, I reckon, an’ we can verify the course after your father comes.”
Andy had thrown himself on the ground in the shade of the foliage, his hand clutching the mysterious something under his shirt, as if to show he did not take part in the dangerous investigation; but the others paid no attention to him, and Jenkins paced off the supposed distance in the gravest manner possible.
“I’se boun’ ter warn you dat we’se gwine ter hab trubble, ef you’se hunts fur de gol’,” Andy said, solemnly. “Better lebe it alone, an’ wait fur de yacht.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Jenkins replied, petulantly. “We can’t afford to lose so good a chance as this.”
“Den I ain’ in it,” and the old darky closed his eyes, as if to shut out even the movements of his companions.
As nearly as he could judge from the position of the sun, the mate measured the distance, and then designated the spot where the boys should begin to dig.
“It’s likely to be pretty far down,” he said, as Gil seized the spade, “an’ we’ll take turns. You boys work till you’re tired, an’ then I’ll do my trick.”
Gil set about the task in the firm belief that but a few moments would be necessary to unearth the treasure, and Nelse watched eagerly every turn of the earth.
Twenty minutes of such exercise under a hot sun was enough for the treasure hunter, and then his companionrelieved him, Jenkins waiting until both should be tired, when he would wield the spade.
Meanwhile Andy had wandered toward the beach, as if afraid even to remain in the locality, and just at the moment when Nelse was ready to give up in favor of the mate, the old darky shouted:
“Hyar comes two boats, an’ dey looks like deDay Dream’stenders!”