“I don’t forget.”
In this walk we settled the next day’s proceedings. I advised Yan Bol to take three tons of silver with him ashore when he started early in the morning with his digging party.
“Shall ve not dig der pit first?”
“Yaw, but also take a portion of your cargo with you. The boat’s capacity of five tons was right enough for Captain Greaves’ island; but here a roller may catch and capsize you, even as you’re going ashore, unless you show the best height of side you can manage. Three tons a trip won’t hurt—I’ll not advise more.”
“Yaw, dot vhas right. I himself vhas for tree. But vhy take der silver ashore before der pit vhas dig?”
“To save time. Then, with three tons, you’ll have boxes and chests to enable you to gauge the depth and space you require. You don’t want to dig forty feet when ten may do.”
“No, by Cott, Mr. Fielding, nor would you if you only shoost knew how hardt vhas dot land. Vell, you vhas right. A leedle at a time, und ve starts to-morrow mit a leedle; und vhen der pit vhas dig ve comes back for more.”
“How long will it take you to dig the pit?”
“Vell, dot vill be ash she shall turn out. She may mean a morning’s shob, but all vhas right und safe, I hope, before der sun vhas sunk.”
I went below and slept for an hour. The men got their breakfast early. Hals lighted the caboose fire before the sun was up, and the hands breakfasted when the east was still rosy with the dawn into which the sun had sprung in glory. I say in glory, for it was a very perfect morning, the sky of a deep blue, and the sea of a silver azure with the sunlight upon it. The breeze was light out of the north; but, if it held, it fanned with weight enough to serve my turn.