Once more returning to a part of the underbrush near which the men were employed, Nux and I settled ourselves to listen attentively to their conversation.
Presently we heard Daggett say:
“At this rate we’ll have the raft ready by Saturday, and Saturday night we’ll take the ship.”
“It’s beastly hard work!” growled Dandy Pete, brushing with his sleeve the sweat from his brow.
“Yes; but it means liberty and riches to every one of us,” said Daggett, and that was an argument none cared to deny.
Just then I was startled at hearing low voices just beside me and instinctively I touched the black’s shoulder and we crouched lower in the bushes. Nux, indeed, with a woodsman’s instinct, was quite flat upon the ground, lifeless and invisible, and I strove to imitate him.
“It’s as easy as can be,” said the voice, which I recognized as that of Larkin. “We’ll let the fools work until the raft is finished, and then we’ll put our knives in their hearts, and have the gold for ourselves.”
“How about Bry?” asked Judson, hoarsely whispering to his murderous comrade.
“Oh, he won’t interfere any,” was the reply. “And we need the nigger to help us work the ship.”
“Can three of us manage the vessel?”