“Don’t you think it would be quite possible for the pirate chief to communicate with the Spanish authorities, without betraying the whereabouts of his island?” I asked Ned.
“Do you suppose as the Jack Spaniards don’t know of this here settlement then?” demanded my coxswain in a surprised tone. “It may be so, of course, but I shouldn’t be a bit taken aback if I was told that they were all in the swim, and winked at it.”
I could tell by the expression of Mr. Triggs’s face that he didn’t much believe in this theory of Ned’s; but at this moment some of our captors entered with supper, and we relapsed into silence. The meal consisted of a sort of kedgeree, made of fresh fish and boiled rice, and would have been palatable enough if the cook had not used garlic as a flavouring. We were all allowed to discuss our supper at the same time, but four armed men took up their position as sentries just within our cave-entrance, and looked quite capable of shooting us at a moment’s notice.
From a subsequent uproar of shouting and talking in the outer cavern, I gathered that the chief and some more of his followers had arrived, and I was confirmed in this belief by hearing the deep baying of the bloodhounds. None of these late arrivals, however, intruded themselves upon us, which I attributed partly to the indisposition of the chief.
The atmosphere of our cave grew very oppressive as evening wore on, all the more that it was permeated with clouds of smoke from strong tobacco; but in spite of all this I slept soundly, worn out with fatigue and anxiety.
The next day, nothing occurred to break the monotony of our captivity. We were not permitted to leave the cavern, and its gloom and foul atmosphere were depressing. Nevertheless, our guards did not prevent our talking, which was indeed a precious boon, but we took especial care not to abuse the privilege. Every evening our arms were bound, and four armed sentries were always on watch day and night.
Every morning when I awoke, it was with a hope in my heart that we should hear during the day the roar of the Rattler’s guns, or of some war-vessel sent by the Spanish Government to demand our release. Every evening I had to confess to bitter disappointment, for no such warlike sounds had thundered forth.
Day after day passed in this manner, and we began to grow sick at heart. Had Captain Graves and our shipmates deserted us in our hour of need? No; we scouted the idea indignantly. They must have utterly failed to trace us. There was no other explanation. Mr. Triggs and I began to think too that Ned was right in his conjecture that Miguel had been telling us falsehoods regarding the Captain-General of Cuba. If there was any question of exchanging prisoners, why all this delay?
After the first few days of our captivity had passed, we were allowed to go out on the terrace for an hour every day about the time of sunset. If this privilege had been withheld, we should soon have become very ill, for the weather was extremely oppressive; and the cool sea-breezes, which ought to have tempered the fierce heat during the day, did not seem able to penetrate into the great hollow of the volcanic crater. We badly wanted a change of clothing, but there was no means of obtaining it. Occasionally, however, we were allowed to perform our ablutions.
I think about a fortnight must have passed, when it came to our knowledge through various channels that the chief and a good many of his followers had gone off upon some expedition, whether on the island or by sea we did not know. Miguel remained behind, and the greybeard. This event caused much comment amongst us. I noticed that Ned visibly brightened up.