"The cap'n wants ye," he said, but would not explain why.
"What's the trouble?" asked Tom, when the sailor was on guard, but the newcomer refused to talk about the affair further than to say that he guessed Cadmus would not be back to do additional sentinel duty.
"If that's the case, our plan to escape is knocked in the head," whispered Sam, as he and Tom withdrew to the fire. "Was ever there luck before!"
"I move we try to escape without further delay," returned Tom. He was in a reckless mood.
"Shall we tackle the guard?"
"Let us try a bit of strategy," and then the pair held a whispered consultation lasting several minutes.
Returning to the mouth of the cave Tom took up his position at one side and Sam on the other. Talking of things in general at first, they gradually put the sailor in good humor, and then turned on the subject of snakes.
"That was a bad snake we killed," said Tom. "I sincerely hope there are no more around the cave."
"Snakes are ugly things," said the sailor, shaking his head vigorously.
"Ever see a sea serpent?" questioned Sam.