Whispering softly, the mate directed his companions to retrace their steps with as little noise as possible, and all hands crept back through the now dark tunnel to the foot of the shaft which they had entered.
“What are we to do now?” Gil asked, impatiently.
“That’s just what we must decide upon,” Jenkins replied, “an’ it isn’t going to be an easy question to answer.”
“Who do you suppose the men are?” Nelse asked. “I thought it was certain all the blacks had left the island.”
“It seems that we made a mistake in coming to that conclusion. I’ve an idea the tunnel leads straight back to the cave where we had the pleasure of spending one night.”
“Then the apparent mystery can be explained if we make a search there,” Gil suggested.
“You are right, but it will be a good idea to hunt mighty cautiously, or we may find ourselves in a worse scrape than before. You stay here while I take a short trip in that direction, and at the same time warn Andy of what has been discovered.”
Both of the boys were unwilling the party should separate. Strength of numbers seemed to be their only protection, and the loss of one would be very serious.
Jenkins, however, was positive his plan offered the only chance of safety, and after some discussion the others agreed to it.
“I’ll take one of the revolvers, and you fellows will have the other. It is likely that I shall be away some time, therefore you mustn’t get nervous if I stay nearly all day. You had better get in the tunnel half-a-dozen yards from the shaft, so your voices won’t be heard if anybody happens to come this way.”