The sailors, superstitious as are nearly all their class, believed the wisest course would be to follow the old darky’s advice, arguing that since he knew more about the island and the ways of the repulsive beings who had been found upon it, than any one else, it was reasonable to suppose he could best extricate them from their uncomfortable situation.
Both Gil and Nelse, however, were determined to stay where they were until Jenkins returned, and to this end the former said to Andy:
“Come down here until you know what has been found. There can be no danger, since you’ve got your charm with you, and we are now positive that all the blacks have not left the island.”
“I dun seed ’em go wif my own eyes.”
“You saw three boats; but I tell you there are more not far from here, and, what is worse, it’s the old ones who have been left behind.”
Andy appeared incredulous until the sailors joined with Gil in the statement, and then, looking around suspiciously, as if expecting to see his enemies near at hand ready to spring upon him, the cook prepared to descend by first clutching firmly the mysterious “something” which was concealed beneath the bosom of his shirt.
On reaching the bottom of the shaft he went through a series of gestures, probably intended for the purpose of warding off danger, and then whispered, cautiously:
“Wha’ hab you seen, honey? Don’t try to fool wid de ole man, kase dis yere am no kinder time ter play pranks when de wustes’ sort ob trubble am cummin’.”
“I don’t want to fool you,” Gil replied, impatiently, “but it is necessary you should know that there are people in a sort of cave, perhaps the very one where we were kept prisoners, and their voices can be heard distinctly if you listen at the end of this tunnel, where it looks as if a wall of solid rock rose right up before you. Go on, and try to make out what they are talking about.”
While speaking, the boy had seized the old darky by the arm, as if to force him onward, and the latter shrank back with every show of terror.