“Now is our time,” Jenkins said, hurriedly. “You rush out there and hunt for the weapons—I fancy some of them were dropped during the scramble—while I see what there is in the cave that we might want.”
Andy ran like a deer in one direction, while Jenkins went in another, and five minutes later the two returned laden with the spoils.
The old darky brought into the thicket two revolvers with one ammunition belt, four freshly-killed animals, such as the blacks had roasted for breakfast, and three murderous-looking knives.
Jenkins found two knives, a couple of hatchets, a small bag filled with yams, and a spade, he saying, as he held up the last-mentioned implement for Andy’s inspection:
“I don’t know what we want of such a thing, but I was determined to bring away as much as possible, and it may come in handy before we leave.”
“We’se boun’ ter make ’em pay fur de rockets, an’ de spade will count on de bill. Hadn’ we better mosey ’long to de boys? Dey’ll be erbout wild ef we don’ cum mighty soon.”
“Lead the way, and I’ll follow; but be careful, for it won’t do to let those fellows have a glimpse of us.”
Andy understood only too well that their safety depended upon remaining under cover, and he conducted the mate back to the place where the boys had been left, by a circuitous route toward the east.
“I’se ’lowin’ dat dem debbils hab all gone ober to the souf shore, kase it’s frum dere dey kin strike across to de big island, so all we has ter do is keep on our end, ef we don’ wan’ ter see ’em.”
When the two were with the boys again nearly five hours had elapsed since the time of their departure, and both Gil and Nelse were decidedly disturbed in mind.