He spoke quietly and with dignity. His madness was gone, he seemed a new man.
"Ded 'ee think that we wos vools, Jasper, my deear? Aw, iss, Eli es a clever boy, but law, Cap'n Jack's gang 'ave got eyes everywhere. And we cudden find the dreckshuns, and we bea'nt no schullards, but we do knaw that two and two do maake vower. That's how we vound out. Aw, aw, Jasper, my deear, you bea'nt a-goin' to buy back Pennington in that way. No, no; and I have my doubts ef the weather 'll laive 'ee git back to the caave in Gamper Bay again, for oal you stailed my boat from there."
His words drove me to madness, especially when they roused a laugh from Israel Barnicoat, who stood close by him.
"Then I'm not to have this," I cried, pointing to the box.
"No, you bea'nt, my deear. I be a generous man, but I cudden afford that."
"Then you shan't!" I cried.
With a strength that was unnatural I seized the heavy iron box, and before they could prevent me I threw it into the black waters of the gulf.
"There," I said, "if I cannot have it neither shall you, or if you get it, you shall go into Hell's Mouth after it."
Cap'n Jack gave a terrible oath. "Send him after it, Israel Barnicoat!" he cried.
I stooped to seize the crowbar in order to defend myself, but before I could use it as a weapon Israel Barnicoat threw himself upon me. My foot slipped upon the rock, and before I could regain my footing I received a stunning blow. A moment later I felt myself sinking in the black waters from which Eli Fraddam had said there was no escape. And all this happened in a few seconds—so quickly, indeed, did it take place that I had not even time to call upon God to have mercy upon my poor, sinful soul.