"Look you," he continued, "I have followed you for your good. I tried to keep you from leaving Land's End last night, I followed you to the cave in Kynance Cove. Come, there is more danger around than you think."
"What danger?" I asked.
The words had scarcely escaped my lips when I heard the sound of voices, and Eli gave a shriek as though some one had given him a deadly blow.
I turned and saw several men standing close by me. A moment later one spoke.
"Oa, Jasper Pennington, this es kind of 'ee to come 'ere like this. You knawed I wanted to vind out Granfer Fraddam's secret, did'n 'ee, then? An' you was a goin' to make a present of et to me, wad'n 'ee, then? Well, you be kind, Jasper."
"Cap'n Jack!" I cried.
"Iss, Cap'n Jack. Allays a friend to 'ee, Jasper, a stiddy, pious man I be. So es Billy Coad 'ere. Ther's few people c'n give sich a religious experience as Billy. Well, we vound out wot you was up to, so we be cum to help 'ee, my deear boy."
I saw that all was lost. The treasure, if treasure there was, could never be mine.
"You told them this!" I cried, turning to the madman, to whom I had been talking.
"No, Jasper Pennington, I have told nothing. But I heard they were coming, and I came to warn you."