“Will it be many days before we arrive at Hayti?” Gil asked the mate, and the latter replied:
“If the wind favors we shall wind this portion of the cruise up in short order. The captain intends to run down as far as Silver Key Passage, and then we can head nearly due west.”
“Let’s go and tell Andy how near we are to the home of the voudoos,” Nelse suggested, and the two went at once to the galley, where the information was imparted without loss of time.
The old darky looked at them pityingly for some seconds, and then, shaking his head mournfully, he said:
“You’se rushin’ on ter destruction, dat’s wha’ you’se doin’, an’ when de time cums dat dere’s no help fur you, I’se sartin nobuddy won’t call Andy Storts er fool.”
“What are you going to do when we land?” Gil asked, trying hard to prevent himself from laughing.
“I’se done gone ’range up a plan ob my own.”
“Dere’s no kin’ ob use tryin’ ter run away frum de debbil, kase it carn’t be did. Ef de captain’s boun’ fur ter git hisself in trubble, an’ you boys won’t try ter dissuade him from it, I’se gwine ter take keer ob myself. Don’ dat stan’ to reason?”
“You are right, Andy,” Nelse replied, laughingly; “but please tell us what your plan is.”
“It carn’t be did, honey, kase de voudoos wud git hol’ ob it, an’ den whar’d de ole man be? I’se bin studyin’ an’ studyin’ sence we got de schooner back, an’ now I’se feelin’ toller’bly easy in my min’.”
“Then by not telling us the secret, you show yourself willing that we shall come to grief.”
“Honey, dem as rushes ’roun’ whar dey don’ b’long mus’ take de chances, an’ ole Andy couldn’t dissuade yer ter took his adwise.”
With this sage remark, spoken in the most sepulchral of tones, the cook turned his attention once more to the savory dish he was preparing for the cabin table, and it was all in vain that the boys tried to prolong the conversation.
From this time until the schooner finally came to anchor off the northern shore of the Tortuga de Mar, nothing of especial interest occurred to vary the monotony of the voyage.
The wind favored them in the most satisfactory manner, and the little craft glided among the many keys in perfect safety until on a certain night about ten o’clock the longed-for spot was reached.