It was not necessary for the boys to advise Jenkins to move quickly,
since he was quite as eager as they to have the desperate affair
settled.
That he should feel nervous was not to be wondered at, for he realized
fully how many chances there were against success, and in case of a
triumph, bought at the expense of a dangerous wound to one or the other
of the boys, the mate knew only too well that Captain Mansfield would
bring him to a rigid accounting.
“This is where I’m bound to get the worst of it anyhow,” he muttered
to himself as he crept forward to a cleared spot, where it would be
possible to use the revolver to advantage, “an’ I don’t know as it
makes much difference how the thing turns out. If we get the best of
it here, we’ve got to settle with the sailors, who, if any amount of
treasure has been found, will be ripe for mischief.”
Then, as if in desperation, he leveled his weapon, gave the signal for
all to be ready, and fired three shots in rapid succession.
The boys followed his example, except, perhaps, that they did not take
as careful aim, for the idea of shooting, with intent to kill, at a
human being, was, despite the gravity of the situation, something at
which their better nature revolted.
The reports of the weapons rang out in a scattering fashion, causing it
to sound as if ten instead of three men were firing, and, as the smoke
arose, preventing any view of the enemy, Jenkins shouted:
“Now for it, boys!”
The little party dashed across the cleared space without knowing what
effect the bullets had had.
A cheer went up from Gil as the greater number of the enemy were seen
fleeing into the cave, each man so determined to gain a place of safety
first that the entrance was literally choked, and those who were
prevented from entering could do no less than turn at bay.
“We’ve frightened ’em too much!” Jenkins cried as he dashed
toward Andy, hoping to sever his bonds while the blacks were yet
panic-stricken, and the words were hardly spoken when he found his
progress barred by two burly fellows who had come to a halt at the
mouth of the cavern where their companions were packed so closely that
it was impossible for them to take another step forward.
“Look out for Andy!” Jenkins cried, as he raised his hatchet to ward
off a blow aimed at him by a heavy ax. “I can hold my own here if
you’ll attend to him.”
The boys were so excited that they hardly heard the words, but, since
both were aiming for the same object, the command was involuntarily
obeyed.
Lying prostrate on the ground where he had been overturned by the first
frenzied rush, the old man was holding up his hands that the bonds
might be severed, and with one slash of his knife Gil succeeded in
cutting the ropes of grass.
Nelse had fallen over a wounded black as he reached the prisoner’s
side, but he managed to scramble to his feet and sever the remaining
bonds before Gil could do anything more, and the cook leaped up, and
seized a huge club from a pile of wood near the fire, thus adding one
more to the small numbers of the attacking party.
The boys’ first impulse was to escape with the rescued man, but a
glance toward Jenkins told that he was in sore need of assistance, and
both darted to his side.
The enemy were so active that the mate had not been able to deal a
single blow with any effect, and pressed him so hotly that he did not
have an opportunity to draw his revolver.
“Shoot that biggest imp!” he shouted, as his friends gained his side.
“I’ll attend to the other!”
Gil aimed directly at the fellow’s head, for it was no time to hesitate
about shedding blood, but before he could discharge the weapon Andy
came to the rescue.
With one swinging blow of his huge club he sent both the blacks
sprawling on the ground, and Jenkins shouted, as he leaped back:
“Save all your cartridges now, an’ make a dash for the bushes!”
It was quite time the white party beat a retreat, for the
panic-stricken ones had been turned, probably by the old men in the
cave, and were now returning to the fight. When they should realize
how few were those who made the attack it would hardly be possible to
check them, and Jenkins’ only hope was to gain a shelter before this
fact was known.
So far as could be ascertained in this brief interval of time, none of
the blacks had been killed, but several were wounded, and these lay on
the ground where, unless their fear was too great, they could see the
whites as they ran toward the bushes.
One of the boldest of those who were returning to the fray ran after
the retreating party with an uplifted ax, but Jenkins put a bullet
through his arm, and he fled once more, screaming as if in mortal
agony, toward the cave, thus checking the pursuit momentarily.
It was hardly more than three minutes from the time the first shot was
fired before those who had made the brave charge were within shelter of
the foliage, waiting to regain their breath, and the mate said, in a
tone of deepest relief:
“We’ve come out of that mighty lucky, and now if we can get to the
shaft before they gather their wits, there’s a chance of pullin’
through all right; but I allow, Andy, that you’re willin’ to stay with
us after this.”
“I’se boun’ to do dat; but I’se gwine ter hol’ to it dat dere’s no use
in stoppin’ whar de hoodoo is mighty strong.”
“It wasn’t strong enough to prevent us from getting you clear after
they had you trussed up like a chicken ready for roasting,” Gil said,
grimly, panting so hard that he could speak only with difficulty.
“Dat’s a fac’, honey; but de charm was wha’ did de mos’ ob it.”
“You was left alone with your charm, and would have been killed if we
hadn’t followed at risk of our own lives, so I don’t want to hear any
more about that thing,” Nelse replied, sharply. “If it were of the same
power you seem to think, there would have been no need of us.”
“Dere’s some tings it carn’t do, ob course; but when you sees it I’se
suah you’se gwine ter fall right down in ’sprise.”
“Then why didn’t you show it to those fellows when they caught you, an’
saved us all this trouble.”
“I hadn’t de time, honey. Dey done cum so quick I couldn’t mo’n wink
afore de ropes was woun’ all ober me.”
“You managed to make considerable noise, just the same.”
“Dat’s wha’ I’se boun’ ter do so’s you’se would hyar me.”
“There’s no use arguin’ with the old fool,” Jenkins said, impatiently.
“We’ve got to get back to the shaft, an’ if we don’t move mighty lively
the whole crowd will be down on us.”
Even in the face of their danger the boys had allowed their thoughts to
be occupied with the cook to the exclusion of everything else, and now,
as they gazed toward the fire, it could be seen that the blacks were
making ready for a regular battle.
The repulsive-looking old men had come from the cave, and were now
addressing their followers, probably for the purpose of inciting them
to fight, and the more courageous had already advanced toward the
thicket, as if ready to wreak vengeance.
Four were receiving considerable attention as their companions bound
up the wounds inflicted by the revolvers; but none were in such
a dangerous condition but that they could give a good account of
themselves in the chase which would probably ensue, and Jenkins said,
regretfully:
“We oughter been more careful. What they want is a good lesson, an’ if
we’d succeeded in killin’ half a dozen, the rest wouldn’t be so bold.”
“We’ve done mischief enough,” Gil said, with a shudder, “and if we can
get back to the tunnel it is to be hoped they’ll leave us alone.”
“That’s exactly what they don’t intend to do, my boy. See! they are
after us hot foot already!”
It was as Jenkins had said. The entire crowd were beginning to move
down the slope from the cave, and there was no longer any hope of being
allowed to retire peacefully.
“It has turned into a runnin’ fight,” the mate said, as he examined his
revolver. “You fellows must start, an’ I’ll try to hold ’em in check a
little. Then I’ll join you, an’ we’ll work the same game over again.
Andy, can you lead the way to the shaft?”
“I’se able ter do dat much.”
“Then go, and don’t wait for me until I’ve fired three times. After
that I shall come on the best I know how.”
The old man started through the underbrush after assuring himself that
the boys were close behind, and during the next five minutes the three
traveled at a rapid pace without hearing the slightest sound from the
rear.
Then came two shots in succession, and Gil would have stopped but that
the old darky reminded him they should hear another before coming to a
halt, and in less than a minute the third rang out so near at hand that
it seemed as if Jenkins must have been standing close beside them when
he fired.
“Where are you?” Nelse cried, and the mate replied:
“Don’t speak so loud. They are right behind, and our only hope is to
throw them off the scent, or we may not be able to get under cover.”
“Even if we gain the shaft it is only a question of being starved out.”
“Very true; but we can stand considerable hunger an’ thirst before
we’ll come out to be killed.”
Now it was Jenkins who led the way, and he traveled at full speed until
the footsteps of the pursuers could be heard close in the rear, when he
halted.
“Go on, boys; I’ll try to stop ’em once more, an’ on the next tack we
must sight the shaft, or give up all hope of gettin’ back there.”
“Come on, chillun! Don’t stop now when dem debbils are so nigh!” Andy
shouted, and in another instant a cry of terror burst from his lips as
he ran almost into the arms of a black man.
The devotees of voudooism were not so dumb as the mate had fancied, and
instead of following behind, a portion had circled around the party,
thus cutting off the line of the proposed retreat.
“Why don’t you go on?” Jenkins cried, angrily.
“Because they have succeeded in surrounding us,” Gil replied, but by no
means calmly. “It’s a question of fighting, now, whether we want to or
not.”
“Then be careful that every shot tells,” the mate cried, taking no heed
of the fact that in the intense darkness it was impossible to do more
than fire at random.