CHAPTER XXVII.UNDER COVER.

CHAPTER XXVII.UNDER COVER.

In an instant every one of the fugitives realized that perfect silence was of the utmost importance in aiding them to ascertain the location of the enemy, and not one moved or spoke during the minute which followed the alarming discovery.

Then could be heard the stealthy footsteps of those who were tracking them to the death, and Jenkins fancied he saw a way out of the dangerous situation.

Pressing the hand of Nelse, who was nearest, he intimated that the boy was to follow him, and the latter, in turn, communicated the command by the same means to Gil and Andy.

The mate’s purpose was to steal off at an angle, and thus avoid the enemy, who was steadily closing in on them, for a hand-to-hand conflict was not to be thought of for a single instant, and that was what must come in a very short time, unless the pursued could escape the net which was being drawn tighter each moment.

Stealthily the four crept toward the left, advancing slowly but surely each instant until, just when all began to fancy the plan might be a success, it was Jenkins’ turn to run plump into the arms of one of the enemy.

During a few seconds neither of his companions understoodwhy he halted so suddenly, nor what caused the unusual rustling among the foliage, and then Gil realized, more by the sense of touch than of sight, that the mate was putting forth all his strength in a struggle for the mastery, the loser of which might expect only death.

For an instant it seemed singular that the black did not summon others to his aid, and then Gil learned that the sailor had grasped his adversary by the throat, thus preventing him from making any outcry.

Once this discovery had been made, the only question was as to how the mate might be assisted, and Gil could think of no way, except to seize the man by the legs, which he did with such suddenness and strength that the fellow was hurled to the ground, his head striking an uncovered root a resounding thump that deprived him of consciousness.

Now was the time to continue the flight, for every second was precious, and the little party pushed on through the underbrush at a rate of speed that promised to give them a decided advantage over possible pursuers.

At the best pace each ran, Jenkins leading the way, the others following in single file, each grasping the clothing of the one in advance that they might not be separated. The blows received by coming in contact with the low-hanging branches were not noticed in this race for life, nor did any heed the dangers that might be encountered by a misstep, or a mistake as to the course; but all pressed on literally for dear life, and when twenty minutes had passed Jenkins paused at the mouth of the shaft.

Not a sound could be heard to betoken that the enemywere in pursuit, and the mate was on the point of whispering to the sailors to pass up the rope, when Gil said:

“Here it is, made fast to the tree as when we left.”

“And they were so crazy about the treasure that it wasn’t thought worth while to look out for safety. It would have been a nice mess, if those imps had come here ahead of us, an’ taken a notion to find the meaning of such a ladder.”

“Never mind that now,” Gil said, soothingly, as he saw that the mate was likely to linger too long over this neglect of duty. “Let’s get below first, and talk about what should have been done afterward.”

“Go down; I’ll wait until you are at the bottom, so’s to make sure the black villains haven’t yet discovered our hiding-place.”

Gil swung himself over the edge, and allowed the rope to slip slowly through his hands until he reached the bottom.

Neither of the two men came to ask the result of the foray, and he thought with surprise that they must be sleeping.

It was necessary every member of the party should be on the alert, and he went into the tunnel to awaken them, feeling around with his hands.

Nothing could be found. It was as if the place had been abandoned. Pressing farther in he continued the blind search, but without success, and finally the truth of the matter flashed upon him. Running to the shaft, arriving there just as Jenkins descended, the others having reached the bottom in safety, he said, excitedly:

“The sailors have gone to help us, and now I suppose we ought to start out to find them, though it seems like advertising our whereabouts to the enemy.”

“Do you mean that neither of the fellows are here?” Jenkins asked, in surprise.

“Not unless they are in the treasure chamber. I went up the tunnel as far as I dared without a light, and found it empty. I suppose they thought we were getting the worst of it when the firing was heard, and wanted to help.”

“Not a bit of it,” the mate said, angrily. “They’ve been overhaulin’ the treasure; taken all they could find, an’ now propose to give us the slip.”

“It doesn’t seem reasonable they would run so many risks just for a little money.”

“The chances are that they’ve found a good deal, and rather than divide, or be contented with what the captain might choose to give them, have parted company with us.”

“That seems like suicide, for they can’t show themselves when father arrives without giving up what has been carried away.”

“Most likely they count on stealin’ a boat from the blacks, an’ gettin’ to the mainland; but they’ll find that a mighty slim chance. I wish I had hold of the sneaks for a minute, I’d show them what it means to play such a trick.”

“Don’t bother your head about it. We are well rid of men who will act like that.”

“But they’ve made way with all the treasure you discovered,most likely,” and in his anger Jenkins spoke incautiously loud.

“What of it? The chances are neither they nor we can leave the island with it, and our lives are more precious than all the pirates’ hoards that were ever buried.”

The mate failed to look at the matter in such a philosophical light, and he would have continued to give way to his anger in unmeasured terms, if a noise from the entrance had not warned him to be silent.

Animated by the same thought, each member of the party crept to the edge of the shaft, and there the hum of voices proclaimed that the secret of their hiding-place had been discovered.

“We’re under cover now, for a fact,” Jenkins said, grimly, as the sound of footsteps told that the enemy were moving to and fro, evidently for the purpose of examining the surroundings, “and the worst of it is that we’re reg’larly shut in till the captain comes back, for I’ll guarantee that crowd don’t leave while we are down here alive.”

“Then the sailors are better off than we, and have a good chance to get hold of the boats.”

“It ain’t likely these imps are so careless as to leave the crafts where anybody can get them, an’ we shall have to wait till mornin’ before knowin’ who’s in the best condition. We’ll have a few oysters, an’ then try to get a little sleep, for there’s no danger of an attack between now an’ daylight.”

“I couldn’t close my eyes a single minute while that crowd is waiting around to kill us,” Nelse said, with a shudder.

“Don’t be so sure, lad; you’ll get used to it in a little while, an’ the need for sleep will come mighty strong before morning.”

Nelse was positive Jenkins spoke at random, and he also thought he couldn’t eat anything under the circumstances; but when his companions attacked the oysters he succeeded in swallowing quite as many as did Gil, and even Andy made a hearty supper.

It was no longer possible to hear any noise from around the mouth of the shaft; but the besieged knew beyond a doubt that the enemy were still there, and, acting upon the mate’s suggestion, all hands moved a short distance inside the tunnel, where they could talk without danger of being overheard.

As a matter of course, every one was anxious to hear the story of Andy’s adventures, and he was able to tell it in a very few words.

After refusing to enter the tunnel with the remainder of the party, the old man had made his way toward the interior of the island, hoping to find a hiding-place in some of the trees, and succeeded only in losing his way.

After walking nearly an hour, he found himself in sight of the big cave where the blacks were assembled in full force, and this so frightened him that he thought only of trying to find his comrades. To that end he struck out in the direction where he supposed the shaft to be located, and was within a few yards of the desired spot when he was seized by five men.

From that moment until the revolvers were discharged, Andy had no hope anything could be done to aid him,and, losing faith for the first time in his mysterious charm, prepared for death.

It was evident from the manner of telling the story that he did not care to go into the details, after having brought the trouble all on himself, and a remark made by Gil relative to the treasure-chamber gave him a good excuse for changing the topic of conversation.

“Am it sure dem men took all de gol’ dere was in de hole?” he asked, and Nelse said, with some slight show of enthusiasm:

“What’s to prevent us from finding out exactly the condition of affairs? We’ve got to stay here, and an examination of the place will serve to make the time pass more quickly.”

“Perhaps we might be needed here suddenly,” Gil suggested; but Jenkins said, decidedly:

“I’ll guarantee there’ll be nothin’ goin’ on in this part of the island till sunrise, so if you feel disposed to have a look at the place after them scoundrels have got away with the treasure, there’s nothing to prevent.”

“Somebody will have to help us down. I wouldn’t want to try to lower Nelse alone.”

“Andy can attend to that part of the business. Let him stand by the rope, an’, in case anything should happen which ain’t probable, I can pass the word to him.”

“Is yer gwine ter keep right on lookin’ fur de pirates’ gol’?” the old man asked, in evident alarm.

“Yes, we want to see if the men have left any.”

“Den I stays right hyar. We’se done had trubble enuff ’bout dat ar’ money, an’ I wants ter keep ’way frum it.”

It was in vain that the boys and Jenkins alternately coaxed and scolded; the old fellow positively refused to so much as take a single step into the tunnel, and it seemed as if the investigations would necessarily be postponed until a more convenient season.

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