“Will it be many days before we arrive at Hayti?” Gil asked the mate, and the latter replied:
“If the wind favors we shall wind this portion of the cruise up in short order. The captain intends to run down as far as Silver Key Passage, and then we can head nearly due west.”
“Let’s go and tell Andy how near we are to the home of the voudoos,” Nelse suggested, and the two went at once to the galley, where the information was imparted without loss of time.
The old darky looked at them pityingly for some seconds, and then, shaking his head mournfully, he said:
“You’se rushin’ on ter destruction, dat’s wha’ you’se doin’, an’ when de time cums dat dere’s no help fur you, I’se sartin nobuddy won’t call Andy Storts er fool.”
“What are you going to do when we land?” Gil asked, trying hard to prevent himself from laughing.
“I’se done gone ’range up a plan ob my own.”
“And decided not to desert us?”
“Dere’s no kin’ ob use tryin’ ter run away frum de debbil, kase it carn’t be did. Ef de captain’s boun’ fur ter git hisself in trubble, an’ you boys won’t try ter dissuade him from it, I’se gwine ter take keer ob myself. Don’ dat stan’ to reason?”
“You are right, Andy,” Nelse replied, laughingly; “but please tell us what your plan is.”