"You told them this!" I cried, turning to the madman, to whom I had been talking.
"No, Jasper Pennington, I have told nothing. But I heard they were coming, and I came to warn you."
He spoke quietly and with dignity. His madness was gone, he seemed a new man.
"Ded 'ee think that we wos vools, Jasper, my deear? Aw, iss, Eli es a clever boy, but law, Cap'n Jack's gang 'ave got eyes everywhere. And we cudden find the dreckshuns, and we bea'nt no schullards, but we do knaw that two and two do maake vower. That's how we vound out. Aw, aw, Jasper, my deear, you bea'nt a-goin' to buy back Pennington in that way. No, no; and I have my doubts ef the weather 'll laive 'ee git back to the caave in Gamper Bay again, for oal you stailed my boat from there."
His words drove me to madness, especially when they roused a laugh from Israel Barnicoat, who stood close by him.
"Then I'm not to have this," I cried, pointing to the box.
"No, you bea'nt, my deear. I be a generous man, but I cudden afford that."
With a strength that was unnatural I seized the heavy iron box, and before they could prevent me I threw it into the black waters of the gulf.
"There," I said, "if I cannot have it neither shall you, or if you get it, you shall go into Hell's Mouth after it."
Cap'n Jack gave a terrible oath. "Send him after it, Israel Barnicoat!" he cried.
I stooped to seize the crowbar in order to defend myself, but before I could use it as a weapon Israel Barnicoat threw himself upon me. My foot slipped upon the rock, and before I could regain my footing I received a stunning blow. A moment later I felt myself sinking in the black waters from which Eli Fraddam had said there was no escape. And all this happened in a few seconds--so quickly, indeed, did it take place that I had not even time to call upon God to have mercy upon my poor, sinful soul.
TELLS OF THE STRANGE REVELATION MADE BY THE MADMAN OF BEDRUTHEN STEPS, AND OF TAMSIN TRUSCOTT'S TREACHERY
For a moment I gave myself up as lost. I remembered how the black waters of the gulf coiled and circled, and knew that there must be some strong current underneath. I remembered, too, how the stick I had thrown into it had disappeared from sight, and felt that there could be no hope for me. But this was only for a moment. I was a strong swimmer, and had been accustomed to the water all my life. After all, "Hell's Mouth" was not very wide, and I hoped I should be able to grasp the edge of the rocks and thus save myself. Then I remembered that Cap'n Jack and his followers would, if possible, keep me from ever escaping if it were in their power so to do. I had in a moment destroyed their hopes of ever getting Granfer Fraddam's treasure, for not one of them would dare to descend into the treacherous depths of the waters where I had thrown it.