Both Gil and Nelse, however, were determined to stay where they were until Jenkins returned, and to this end the former said to Andy:
“Come down here until you know what has been found. There can be no danger, since you’ve got your charm with you, and we are now positive that all the blacks have not left the island.”
“You saw three boats; but I tell you there are more not far from here, and, what is worse, it’s the old ones who have been left behind.”
Andy appeared incredulous until the sailors joined with Gil in the statement, and then, looking around suspiciously, as if expecting to see his enemies near at hand ready to spring upon him, the cook prepared to descend by first clutching firmly the mysterious “something” which was concealed beneath the bosom of his shirt.
On reaching the bottom of the shaft he went through a series of gestures, probably intended for the purpose of warding off danger, and then whispered, cautiously:
“Wha’ hab you seen, honey? Don’t try to fool wid de ole man, kase dis yere am no kinder time ter play pranks when de wustes’ sort ob trubble am cummin’.”
“I don’t want to fool you,” Gil replied, impatiently, “but it is necessary you should know that there are people in a sort of cave, perhaps the very one where we were kept prisoners, and their voices can be heard distinctly if you listen at the end of this tunnel, where it looks as if a wall of solid rock rose right up before you. Go on, and try to make out what they are talking about.”
While speaking, the boy had seized the old darky by the arm, as if to force him onward, and the latter shrank back with every show of terror.
“I wouldn’t go dere fur a millyon dollars, an’ dat’s eh fac’,” Andy said, with a long-drawn sigh. “Af it’s de ole debbils wha’ hab been lef behin’, de odders are skinnin’ roun’ fur ter get a crowd ober hyar to ketch us all.”
“Why would so much trouble be necessary, when they outnumber us at least three to one?” Nelse asked.
“Dat’s jes’ wha’ dey don’ know, honey. De fiery sarpints hab done made ’em t’ink we’se er hard gang, an’ dey’s gwine ter bring more ob dem ole fellers ter help erlong wid de hoodoo.”
Upon this point Andy appeared to be so positive that it would have been only a waste of time to argue the matter, and Gil urged him to follow up the tunnel in the hope of learning by the conversation who the men were in the subterranean chamber.