“You are right, my boy, and I’ll hunt for a hiding-place if the rest will act on your suggestion. We can meet here any time between now an’ sunset, so there’ll be no danger of losing each other. Andy, show them where the shell fish can be found easiest.”
The cook, who had thrown himself on the ground as if in such despair that his legs could no longer be depended upon to do their duty, rose slowly and silently, which was sufficient intimation that he would so far oblige, however unnecessary he might think it to provide for a party who were doomed to death.
“Bring in everything eatable you can find,” Jenkins said, and then started through the underbrush to perform his portion of the work.
Gil was forced to speak quite sharply to Andy before the latter would lead the way toward the beach, but after the old fellow once started he did his best to procure the provisions in the shortest possible space of time.
When the party left the shelter of the trees, and walked cautiously out on the sands, where the gentle swell of the sea was rolling up in tinkling measures, not a sign of the enemy could be seen. It was as if they were alone on the island, and, while this apparent security caused the others to feel considerably more confident than at any time since it had been discovered the boat was stolen, it filled Andy with the gravest apprehensions.
“I’se done been hyar afore,” he said, with a solemn shake of the head, “an’ I tell yer, honey, we’se gwine ter hab a power ob trubble.”
“There don’t seem to be any signs of it around here,” Nelse replied, with a laugh.
“Dat’s kase yer don’t know wha’ kin’ ob folks dese yere imps be, honey. Dey’s layin’ low like now; but look out fur ’em, look out, I say, an’ don’ trus’ de snake jes’ kase he ain’ in de humor fur bitin’. Dey’s done got dere eyes on us now, an’ when de right time comes we’se gwine to fin’ it out.”
“If they don’t do any more than keep their eyes on us for the next hour we shall stand a good chance of laying in a stock of provisions, for the oysters appear to be plentiful on this part of the beach.”
Andy contented himself with simply shaking his head, as if to say he could tell a great deal more if he felt disposed, and then all hands began industriously gathering the shell fish, which were to be seen just above the low water mark in enormous beds.