“Do you propose to go directly there, or shall we circle around so they can’t track us easily?” Nelse asked.
“It’ll be as well to drive ahead, I reckon; they’ll find us out anyhow, for we can’t hide the trail any better than these woods will do it for us.”
Then Jenkins signified that he was ready, and the little party, each carrying a quantity of oysters, followed at his heels in perfect silence.
The mate had the bearings of the old palm well in mind, and went directly toward it without swerving to the right or the left, coming to a halt only when he reached the spot where, a few hours previous, the boys had been so certain a large amount of treasure was about to be found.
Although he had said that the blacks would be certain to discover their hiding-place, he took good care not to make any more noise than was absolutely necessary.
“Swarm down there,” he whispered, cautiously, “and the last man shall pull the rope after him, for it won’t do to let those blacks have a chance to steal it.”
“If we do that, how will it be possible for us to come up again?” Gil asked. “We can’t make the rope fast above while all hands are below.”
“I have thought of that. We must take the chances of climbin’ up the sides by diggin’ small holes where the sand is hardest. At all events, I’ll guarantee we get back here again, if they leave enough of us.”
One of the sailors obeyed the motions made by the mate, and began to slip slowly down the rope. When he was at the bottom of the shaft first one and then another of the bags were lowered, until all had disappeared, and then the second sailor followed his comrade.
“Now remember to pull the rope after you, an’ don’t show yourselves again till you hear me speak,” Jenkins said, as he urged Gil toward the mouth of the shaft.