“The blacks didn’t think these were of sufficient value to steal, otherwise we might have been obliged to give up the search almost before it was begun.”
“An’ dat would er bin a mighty good t’ing,” Andy muttered, without so much as turning his head.
For at least the twentieth time the mate pored over the document, and then he said:
“Suppose we have one try for it. That can surely do no harm, and it will serve to occupy our time while waiting for the yacht.”
As may be supposed, the boys were more than willing to act on this suggestion, and Jenkins immediately began making preparations for moving the small amount of stores to the place where they had so nearly met their death.
Andy assisted in the removal, but it could be seen that he was far from being pleased with the proposition, and nothing but a wholesome fear of the mate prevented him from giving words to that which was in his mind.
“I take it that the letters ‘F’ and ‘S’ are the initials of the man’s name who drew this thing,” Jenkins said, when they were at the old palm. “We’ll allow that, at all events, an’ try for the course as marked out—18—8 North, and 5 West from the tree.”
“Will you take it in feet or fathoms?” Nelse asked.
“Feet, as a starter, an’ if the yacht hasn’t hove in sight after we’ve dug at that spot, it won’t do any harm to try fathoms.”
“But without a compass you can’t be positive as to the direction.”