“So that is why he insists on being put ashore?” the captain said, half to himself.
“Is there any real reason why he should be afraid?” Nelse asked.
“Certainly not. It is true that there are a large number of negroes, more especially in Hayti, who believe in that sort of mummery; but you can hunt for the treasure just as long as you please without fear of being molested by any of them.”
“And you are willing we should make the attempt?”
“Dig away as much as you please; but I fancy a couple of days’ work will give you all the searching that’s needed.”
“Will you help us find the spot as shown by the drawing?”
“I’ll spend a short time at it, providing we have safe anchorage for the schooner.”
This was even more than Gil had dared to hope, and his spirits revived wonderfully.
“Then we shan’t have any trouble in bringing away a lot of gold,” he cried, and from that moment until it was time to retire, save when they were eating, he and Nelse studied the tracing on the piece of brown paper.
When the boys “turned in,” the wind was blowing steadily from the same quarter as when the message from the shipwrecked ones was received, and there appeared to be no doubt but that the Day Dream would make the key at the time set by Captain Mansfield.