“It’s so early in the morning that the sun will serve us for that, I reckon, an’ we can verify the course after your father comes.”
Andy had thrown himself on the ground in the shade of the foliage, his hand clutching the mysterious something under his shirt, as if to show he did not take part in the dangerous investigation; but the others paid no attention to him, and Jenkins paced off the supposed distance in the gravest manner possible.
“I’se boun’ ter warn you dat we’se gwine ter hab trubble, ef you’se hunts fur de gol’,” Andy said, solemnly. “Better lebe it alone, an’ wait fur de yacht.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Jenkins replied, petulantly. “We can’t afford to lose so good a chance as this.”
“Den I ain’ in it,” and the old darky closed his eyes, as if to shut out even the movements of his companions.
As nearly as he could judge from the position of the sun, the mate measured the distance, and then designated the spot where the boys should begin to dig.
“It’s likely to be pretty far down,” he said, as Gil seized the spade, “an’ we’ll take turns. You boys work till you’re tired, an’ then I’ll do my trick.”
Gil set about the task in the firm belief that but a few moments would be necessary to unearth the treasure, and Nelse watched eagerly every turn of the earth.
Twenty minutes of such exercise under a hot sun was enough for the treasure hunter, and then his companion relieved him, Jenkins waiting until both should be tired, when he would wield the spade.
Meanwhile Andy had wandered toward the beach, as if afraid even to remain in the locality, and just at the moment when Nelse was ready to give up in favor of the mate, the old darky shouted: