“We hope to be under way in a short time,” Captain Mansfield began, “and you are to say what is to become of your precious self. I should be warranted in taking you to Nassau in chains; but it will be too much trouble.”
“I would like to be set ashore, sir.”
“You can leave at any time; but I don’t propose the men shall exert themselves in your behalf by so much as pulling an oar.”
“I can’t swim,” the man said, piteously.
“That may be; but if we row you ashore your precious friends will probably gain possession of the boat, considering the fact that they are well armed, while we would be helpless.”
“I can rig up a sort of raft on which he could manage to reach the land,” Mr. Jenkins ventured to say, observing that the captain hesitated.
“Very well; if he chooses to go in that manner, I have no objection,” and Captain Mansfield turned away, for he was eager to be rid of the mutineer, but did not propose to take any risks.
Two empty casks, with a plank from one to the other, formed quite a seaworthy raft for one man, and ten minutes later, just as the oncoming breeze filled the yacht’s sails, the mutineer was paddling for dear life toward the key.
There was no time to watch his movements, for the Day Dream began to draw away from the land in a manner which told that the run to Nassau would be quickly an accomplished fact, providing the wind held.
Once more the yacht was bound south, and, despite all the misfortunes which Andy persisted in believing were caused by the voudoos, Gil and Nelse allowed themselves to dream again of the pirates’ gold.