What a relief it was to find themselves in a stanch boat, manned by a full crew, and heading for a trim-looking schooner. It seemed to the boys as if the sky had never been so blue, the water so sparkling, nor the air so balmy as on this day while they were being rowed to the vessel Captain Mansfield had chartered.
Then how good the water tasted. At another time they might have found fault with the flavor; but now it seemed simply delicious, and the boys devoured the hard ship’s biscuit as if they were the lightest and sweetest of Andy’s productions.
When the little party had refreshed themselves, and were able to realize that they had really been saved from a horrible death, Captain Mansfield said, as he took the manuscript from the shattered casket:
“I will see if there is anything here which should be attended to before we leave, and if not, the schooner shall be gotten under way at once.”
“You promised to give me a chance at them thieves,” Jenkins said, quickly.
“You shall have it, never fear, providing the business can be settled before dark.”
Then the captain turned his attention to the manuscript, and read, in a low tone, after glancing over that portion which has already been given:
“The stones, together with as much money as I have been able to secrete, will remain in this subterranean chamber in case anything should happen to me, and I have no fear the blacks will betray the whereabouts of the hiding-place, since they are only too eager to invest every portion of the island with mystery.
“Whether this story will ever be read I know not; but, in case it is found, I implore whoever peruses it to cause search to be made for my family. The gold and plate will be sufficient to pay all necessary expenses, and I pray the diamonds may be given to my wife, together with the accompanying memoranda of the property I own in or near the capital.”
That completed the story. There was no name signed to it, neither were there any hints as to how the members of his family might be found; but Captain Mansfield said, as he assured himself there was nothing more connected with the unfortunate man’s history in the casket: