“I mean this, Francisco,” said Cain; “that your mother, who always has visited me in my dreams whenever anything (dreadful now to think of!) was about to take place, appeared to me last night; and there was sorrow and pity in her sweet face as she mournfully waved her hand, as if to summon me to follow her. Yes, thank God! she no longer looked upon me as for many years she has done.”
Francisco made no answer; and Cain again seemed to be lost in meditation.
After a little while Cain rose, and taking a small packet from one of the drawers, put it into the hands of Francisco.
“Preserve that,” said the pirate-captain; “should any accident happen to me, it will tell you who was your mother; and it also contains directions for finding treasure which I have buried. I leave everything to you, Francisco. It has been unfairly obtained; but you are not the guilty party, and there are none to claim it. Do not answer me now. You may find friends, whom you will make after I am gone, of the same opinion as I am. I tell you again, be careful of that packet.”
“I see little chance of it availing me,” replied Francisco. “If I live, shall I not be considered as a pirate?”
“No, no; you can prove the contrary.”
“I have my doubts. But God’s will be done!”
“Yes, God’s will be done!” said Cain, mournfully. “I dared not have said that a month ago.” And the pirate-captain went on deck, followed by Francisco.
The crew of the Avenger were summoned aft, and called upon to decide as to the measures they considered to be most advisable. They preferred weighing the anchor and running into the bay, where they would be able to defend the schooner, in their opinion, much better than by remaining where they were.
The crew of the pirate-schooner weighed the anchor and continued their precarious course: the breeze had freshened, and the water was in strong ripples, so that they could no longer see the danger beneath her bottom. In the meantime, the sloop of war and Enterprise continued to turn to windward outside the reef.