“This ’ere is gettin’ too hot to suit me,” one of the men said, in a tone of apprehension. “Who knows but that them black scoundrels have got a way to let the whole bottom drop out of the tunnel, an’ that’s why we’ve been allowed to crawl in here.”
“Of course such a thing couldn’t be, because they had no idea we should find the shaft—perhaps don’t know where we are.”
“That may be, but I’m beginnin’ to think a good deal as Andy does about the island’s bein’ bewitched.”
“It wouldn’t do any good just now if you were positive that such a state of affairs existed. Gil is in the hole, and it doesn’t seem fair to leave him there while we talk nonsense.”
“You’re right, lad, an’ I’m an old fool. Here’s the rope; heave ahead an’ we’ll foller, but be careful not to tumble into the same place.”
“Some one should stay here in case Jenkins comes back,” Nelse suggested, as he began to retrace his steps, and one of the sailors said, as he lighted his pipe:
“I’ll hang around. You two can ’tend to him, I reckon.”
It was not an easy matter to find the cavity without falling in, and Nelse moved forward slowly, calling to Gil from time to time until the latter answered, thus guiding him to the proper place.
“Where’s the rope?” he asked, and, instead of replying, the sailor lighted a match, saying as he did so:
“I’d like to have a squint around before we do very much, for it ain’t sure——”