“The stones, together with as much money as I have been able to secrete, will remain in this subterranean chamber——”
“Look here,” Nelse cried, interrupting Gil, “according to what you’ve been reading we haven’t found any pirates’ treasure, but something for which an owner may appear at any moment.”
“That’s just the size of it, and when we give up the diamonds we sha’n’t be able to account very satisfactorily for what the sailors stole. Our story will seem rather fishy, I’m afraid; but let’s find out the balance of this communication, and then we shall know better what must be done.”
“Are we to give up all hope of coming at the gold which is described by the chart?”
“I think we may as well own up that it is a failure; but we can tell after I——”
The conversation was interrupted by a noise from the outside, and, springing to his feet, Gil went toward the edge of the shaft, arriving there just as a shower of missiles descended.
Standing near the edge of the shaft as he did, Gil escaped a blow; but the prisoners were hit freely, and they set up such an outcry as caused Jenkins and Andy to spring to their feet very suddenly.
CHAPTER XXXI.
AN OPPORTUNE ARRIVAL.
It was several seconds before the mate understood what had happened, and then, realizing that the enemy was making an attack, he shouted as he darted into the tunnel: