"They're going it strong," remarked Burgoyne. "It must be long after midnight. They've started to quarrel now, I think."
"An' the li'l ole cask," said Minalto broodingly. "Ef I'd but taken ut away...."
The distant pandemonium waxed and waned according to the temper and excitability of the roysterers. The ribald singing was succeeded by a volley of oaths and rifle-shots and blood-curdling shrieks.
Minalto jogged his companion's elbow.
"That's fine!" he exclaimed with marked approval.
For the next hour the loud roar of the flames, as the fire overwhelmed the coco-palms, completely muffled all other sounds, but when at length, towards morning, the conflagration burnt itself out, there was a strange uncanny silence.
"Have a caulk, sir," said Jasper. "I'll be wide awake, if you'm of a mind to sleep."
"I think I will, then," replied Burgoyne gratefully, and for the next two hours he slept like a log.
The slanting rays of the sun were penetrating the brushwood when Alwyn awoke and lifted the canvas covering the entrance to the cave. The air was thick with pungent smoke.
"Wake up, Peter!" exclaimed Burgoyne. "Stand by till we return. We're going out to see what's doing."