"And what are we to do?"
"Git cloase to the Cove, then lop round till dark, after that little Eli'll tell 'ee."
"But why did you take the papers there?"
"People do look everywhere cipt cloase by their own doors. Little Eli ed'n a fool!"
Now I must confess that all this talk about the buried treasure became very foolish to me at this time. As I have said, there were many tales when I was a boy about such things until no one took any heed. Still I determined to make the most of Eli's knowledge, for if what he suspected were true, I should be able to buy back Pennington at once, and have the Tresidders in my power. All the same, I built very little upon it, and through the day tried to make plans which should be more feasible.
When darkness came on we made our way across Goonhilly Downs and came down to the cove when the tide was at its ebb. I saw Cap'n Jack's house in the distance, by means of a light which shone from the window, and could not help thinking of the morning when I first saw it, and of the circumstances under which I came thither. Only a little more than a year had passed away since then, and yet it seemed ages.
"We must be very careful, Eli," I said; "if I am caught by Cap'n Jack's gang I am a dead man."
"All right," grunted Eli. "You'll not be seed. I'll take care o' that. Come after me."
He led the way down a beaten track until we came to a deep gorge, by which we were completely hidden.