“I’ll contrive to lower you down, Gil, an’ Mr. Jenkins can come into the tunnel long enough to help pull you out.”
“I’ve got a better plan than that,” the mate said, suddenly, as a happy thought occurred to him. “Andy shall stay here to listen for the blacks, an’ I’ll bear a hand. After you’ve been there long enough I can come after you.”
“I’se willin’ to stan’ watch ef all hands wants ter go,” Andy added, gruffly, and thus the matter was settled, although it would be necessary for Jenkins to remain in the tunnel.
The old darky seated himself with his back against the side of the shaft, a very dangerous position if any of the enemy should descend quickly, and the others commenced operations.
The torches were found in the tunnel where they had been dropped when Andy’s cry for help was heard, and, as he ignited one, Jenkins said:
“Now have a good look around, boys, an’ make sure them thieves didn’t leave anything behind.”
“Perhaps there was nothing but the diamonds in the hole,” Nelse suggested.
“I don’t allow pirates would go to the trouble of diggin’ sich a place for the sake of hidin’ a little thing like that. Have you still got them safe, Gil?”
“Trust me for that. Even while we were stealing up on the enemy, I kept feeling in my pocket to make sure they couldn’t get lost.”
“I allow there’s more than enough in them ’ere stones to pay for the Day Dream, an’ leave some over to tassel our handkerchiefs with. Now, are you ready?”