Although this opinion was not shared by Captain Flint, who had carefully abstained from over-indulgence, for reasons of his own, he encouraged it in his men.
But even they, while considering it necessary to remain quiet for a few days, to see whether or not, any harm should result to them, in consequence of their late attack on the merchant ship, none of them showed a disposition to pass another night in the cave.
Captain Flint made no objection to his men remaining outside on the following night, as it would give him the opportunity to investigate the matter, which he desired.
On the next night, when there was no one in the cavern but himself and the two who usually occupied it, he called Lightfoot to him, and asked her if she had ever heard any strange noises in the place before.
"Sometime heard de voices of the Indian braves dat gone to the spirit land," said the woman.
"Did you ever hear anything like the groan we heard last night?"
"Neber," said Lightfoot.
"What do you think it was?" asked the captain.
"Tink him de voice ob the great bad spirit," was the reply.
Captain Flint, finding that he was not likely to learn anything in this quarter that would unravel the mystery, now called the negro.