“Then let’s slip into the galley, and see if Andy is putting his wonderful plan into operation. I am eager to find out how he proposes to assure his own safety while the debbil is getting hold of us.”
Gil was more than willing to act upon this suggestion, since it would serve to help pass away the time until they wished to “turn in,” and the two went below to the kitchen, where, to their great surprise, the door was found securely locked.
They knocked again and again without receiving a reply, and as one of the sailors passed, Gil asked:
“Do you know where Andy is?”
“In there, and he don’t mean to open the door for anybody. I reckon he’s up to some of his funny business, ’cause he’s so afraid of what may be found on the island.”
The boys tried again to make the old darky answer; but he steadily refused, and they were finally forced to return to the deck.
CHAPTER XI.
CONJECTURES.
During this evening Gil and Nelse could do no more than speculate as to whether it would be possible to find a conformation of the coast similar to the one shown by the rude chart, and since this question was to be settled definitely in such a comparatively short space of time neither Captain Mansfield nor Mr. Jenkins would so much as take part in the conversation.
Even the exciting thoughts of discovering pirates’ treasure were not sufficient to prevent them from feeling sleepy after a while, more especially when all save the watch had turned in, and at midnight they crept into the little stateroom.