“Is yer gwine ter keep right on lookin’ fur de pirates’ gol’?” the old man asked, in evident alarm.
“Yes, we want to see if the men have left any.”
“Den I stays right hyar. We’se done had trubble enuff ’bout dat ar’ money, an’ I wants ter keep ’way frum it.”
It was in vain that the boys and Jenkins alternately coaxed and scolded; the old fellow positively refused to so much as take a single step into the tunnel, and it seemed as if the investigations would necessarily be postponed until a more convenient season.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A SECOND ALARM.
The old darky’s superstitious fears sometimes resembled stubbornness, as in this particular case, and Gil, after exhausting his powers of persuasion without effect, said impatiently:
“It’s mighty strange that you’re always afraid when there’s something on hand in the shape of work.”
“Cummin’ to dis yere islan’ wasn’ none ob my fixin’, an’ ef de captin would er lef’ me I’d done been gone outer de yacht afore she got pas’ New York Harbor, kase I knowed wha’ was goin’ ter happen,” and then Andy relapsed into moody silence.
The fact that they could not examine the treasure-chamber caused the boys the most intense desire to do so, and finally Nelse suggested that they try it alone.