“Dere ain’t no time ter tork now, kase we’s boun’ ter be outer dis yere place before dem debbils cum back. Don’ speak a word.”
With remarkable celerity, Andy cut the bonds of vines, and while Jenkins was rubbing his arms and legs to restore the circulation, the cook released the boys.
It was as if the sudden change of position served to restore them to consciousness, and by the time the cook had made his arrangements for flight, they were aware of the rescue.
Gil would have followed Jenkins’ example, and overwhelmed the negro with questions; but the mate whispered:
“Keep quiet, now; we can hear all about it later.”
Andy’s first care was to gather up the rope-like vines and throw them on the fire, after which he ran into the thicket, returning a few seconds later with a large package wrapped in sailcloth.
“I’se gwine erhead, an’ you’se mus’ cum erlong mighty fas’ ef yer don’ wan’ ter see dem imps ergin.”
Without waiting for a reply, he started toward the coast to the westward, running so rapidly, laden though he was, that the others had quite as much as they could do to keep pace with him.
During fully half an hour the flight was continued, and just when Nelse was on the point of saying that he could hold out no longer, however great might be the danger, Andy halted in the midst of a palmetto thicket.
“We’se gwine ter stay hyar fur erwhile,” he said, speaking with difficulty, because of his heavy breathing; “but dere mus’ be a mighty snug watch kept, kase dem debbils are boun’ ter fin’ out wha’s been ergoin’ on.”