“Andy an’ I did that while you were snoring. We found out that the fellows in the treasure-chamber could understand a kind of lingo he talks, an’ then we made ’em know what was wanted. We brought ’em up here one by one, after tyin’ the hands of each with that string-piece he wore around his waist, an’ now they’re quiet an’ harmless as lambs. None of ’em dares to wink very hard, an’ we can do all the watchin’ at this place.”
“Ain’t you afraid they will make a sudden rush?” Nelse asked, thinking it anything rather than safe to allow the fellows so near.
“Not while their hands are tied, an’ one of us manages to keep awake. They know what the result will be if any of ’em so much as moves his head the wrong way, an’ I reckon they’ll stay quiet enough.”
“But what about the door at the other end of the tunnel?”
“I’m takin’ my chances on that ’cause we’ve dug away the earth at the top of the treasure-chamber, an’ it’ll be a mighty smart darky who can crawl along there without tumblin’ in, seein’s they can’t afford to bring a light with ’em. You see, this does away with the trouble about torches, an’ I’ll admit that I don’t know how we could a-got more when these were used up. Now, I’m goin’ to take about forty winks. Andy has been right there for the last hour, so you can turn him out for the next trick.”
As he lay down, Jenkins motioned toward the mouth of the tunnel, where the cook was sleeping with his huge mouth opened to its widest extent, and it seemed to the boys as if the former had but just stretched himself out when he was aiding Andy in the snoring concert.
Some of the prisoners had so far recovered from their fears as to be able to indulge in slumber, and those who remained awake were doing their best to convince the watchers that their intentions were peaceable.
Although the situation was decidedly improved from what it had been when the boys lay down, it was yet far from being reassuring, and not until ten minutes or more had passed did they feel at all comfortable in mind.
Then Gil said, as he saw the iron casket lying near the entrance, where Jenkins had placed it for safe keeping:
“I think it’s about time we examined those documents. You keep your eyes on the fellows, an’ I’ll find out what’s written there.”