"All this must take place while I am known to be on shore, and the schooner lying in port."
This plot, which was worthy the invention of a fiend, was approved by all but Jones Bradley who declared that he would have nothing to do with it. For which disobedience of orders he would have probably been put to death had he been at sea.
The plan of operations having been decided upon, the whole party seated themselves round the table for the purpose as they would say of making a night of it.
But somehow or other they seemed to be in no humor for enjoyment, as enjoyment is understood by such characters.
A gloom seemed to have settled on the whole party.
They could not even get their spirits up, by pouring spirits down.
And although they drank freely, they drank for the most part in silence.
"How is this?" shouted captain Flint, "at last have we all lost our voices? Can no one favor us with a song, or toast or a yarn?"
Hardly had these words passed the lips of the captain, when the piteous moan which had so startled the pirates, on the previous evening again saluted them, but in a more suppressed tone of voice. The last faint murmurs of this moan had not yet died away, when a shout, or rather a yell like an Indian war whoop, rang through the cavern in a voice that made the very walls tremble, its thousand echoes rolling away like distant thunder.
The whole group sprang to their feet aghast.