In this work he was aided by the chimpanzees very materially, and before three hours had passed they were in what appeared to be an impregnable position.
So far as Philip had discovered there was no means of entrance to the subterranean chamber save through the grotto, and with the tunnel half-filled by rocks, there was every reason to believe a siege could be sustained indefinitely. The animals appeared to understand quite as well as did their human companion that they were comparatively safe from Goliah and his forces, and hand in hand they wandered through the caverns, uttering exclamations of surprise or chattering with each other in a low tone, but returning to Philip every moment to make sure he would not again disappear from their view.
A dinner and supper of boiled fish, then a long time of unbroken repose, and another day dawned.
During the hours devoted to slumber Philip had resolved that, in order to occupy his mind and provide the needful exercise for all, he would again take up his work of gathering gold, although it might not be possible to carry it away. When breakfast had been cooked in the boiling spring, and eaten, he motioned for the chimpanzees to follow him down the course of the stream.
In order to make them understand what he wished to do, it was only necessary to take from the water a few of the yellow nuggets, compare them with bits of limestone to show the difference in color, and then carry them to the hiding-place behind the statue. One example was sufficient, and without delay the animals set about gathering the treasure, so useless while Philip remained on the island, but of such great value if he could succeed in conveying it to any civilized portion of the world.
It was not his intention to make of this treasure-gathering absolute labor, but only to perform so much of it as would give the needed exercise in confinement; and after the chimpanzees had worked industriously three hours he motioned for them to desist.
Stretched out on the cool white sand in the cavern nearest the grotto, all three of the fugitives enjoyed a most pleasant siesta. They could contrast the heat outside with the refreshing coolness of the under-ground residence, and Philip admitted to himself that to remain shut up here several weeks might not be as unpleasant as would seem at first thought.
Thus alternately working and resting, the time passed at a reasonably rapid rate until Philip judged that one week of this voluntary imprisonment had elapsed.
During all this time nothing had been heard from the apes, and the chimpanzees no longer acted as if fearing each moment their enemies would find them out. Even Philip felt reassured on this point, and was beginning to make preparations for sending Ben Bolt on a reconnoitering expedition, or of going himself, when loud shouts from the outside proclaimed the fact that Goliah’s army had at last discovered their hiding-place.
Even now Philip felt but little alarm, for by barricading the tunnel it would be possible to hold the entire force at bay.