“It carn’t be did, honey, kase de voudoos wud git hol’ ob it, an’ den whar’d de ole man be? I’se bin studyin’ an’ studyin’ sence we got de schooner back, an’ now I’se feelin’ toller’bly easy in my min’.”
“Then by not telling us the secret, you show yourself willing that we shall come to grief.”
“Honey, dem as rushes ’roun’ whar dey don’ b’long mus’ take de chances, an’ ole Andy couldn’t dissuade yer ter took his adwise.”
With this sage remark, spoken in the most sepulchral of tones, the cook turned his attention once more to the savory dish he was preparing for the cabin table, and it was all in vain that the boys tried to prolong the conversation.
From this time until the schooner finally came to anchor off the northern shore of the Tortuga de Mar, nothing of especial interest occurred to vary the monotony of the voyage.
The wind favored them in the most satisfactory manner, and the little craft glided among the many keys in perfect safety until on a certain night about ten o’clock the longed-for spot was reached.
The boys had been on deck in a perfect fever of excitement during the entire day; but, owing to the darkness, it was impossible to gain any idea of the small body of land where they believed so much treasure would be found by them.
“We must curb our impatience until morning, I suppose,” Gil said, with a sigh; “but I would have liked a chance to compare the conformation of the land with our chart.”
“Are you going to bed now?” Nelse asked.
“What would be the use? I couldn’t close my eyes in sleep yet awhile.”