“No, too much worried over getting away. I wish a good blow up would come.”
“As bad for us as for the blacks, man. But what are we to do?”
“I don’t know. What do you say to keeping on along the edge till we are opposite to the brig, and then making a rush as you did before?”
“Seems our only chance.”
“Or wait till dusk and then try?”
“No, they want our help at the brig as badly as we want theirs. I think we had better creep on slowly. If we are seen, we must let the enemy come close, and then give them four barrels and rush. They’ll cover us from the brig.”
The plan was decided upon, and keeping along the edge of the forest, they went cautiously on, sensible now that the tremulous motion of the earth was on the increase, while in addition there came a short sharp report from the mountain.
“Won’t this scare the niggers?” said Drew as they stopped to reconnoitre.
“It doesn’t seem to,” replied Oliver, as they peered between the trunks of some newly-sprung-up palms. “They’re taking it coolly enough.”
The blacks were in fact walking about, now gazing toward the brig, now along the opening toward the sea.