It was quite time the white party beat a retreat, for the panic-stricken ones had been turned, probably by the old men in the cave, and were now returning to the fight. When they should realize how few were those who made the attack it would hardly be possible to check them, and Jenkins’ only hope was to gain a shelter before this fact was known.
So far as could be ascertained in this brief interval of time, none of the blacks had been killed, but several were wounded, and these lay on the ground where, unless their fear was too great, they could see the whites as they ran toward the bushes.
One of the boldest of those who were returning to the fray ran after the retreating party with an uplifted ax, but Jenkins put a bullet through his arm, and he fled once more, screaming as if in mortal agony, toward the cave, thus checking the pursuit momentarily.
It was hardly more than three minutes from the time the first shot was fired before those who had made the brave charge were within shelter of the foliage, waiting to regain their breath, and the mate said, in a tone of deepest relief:
“We’ve come out of that mighty lucky, and now if we can get to the shaft before they gather their wits, there’s a chance of pullin’ through all right; but I allow, Andy, that you’re willin’ to stay with us after this.”
“I’se boun’ to do dat; but I’se gwine ter hol’ to it dat dere’s no use in stoppin’ whar de hoodoo is mighty strong.”
“It wasn’t strong enough to prevent us from getting you clear after they had you trussed up like a chicken ready for roasting,” Gil said, grimly, panting so hard that he could speak only with difficulty.
“Dat’s a fac’, honey; but de charm was wha’ did de mos’ ob it.”
“You was left alone with your charm, and would have been killed if we hadn’t followed at risk of our own lives, so I don’t want to hear any more about that thing,” Nelse replied, sharply. “If it were of the same power you seem to think, there would have been no need of us.”
“Dere’s some tings it carn’t do, ob course; but when you sees it I’se suah you’se gwine ter fall right down in ’sprise.”