JIMMY--[_Eagerly._] I fix um, Captain, they no tell! [BARTLETT _doesn’t
answer, but stares at the treasure_. HORNE _makes violent motions to_
JIMMY _to go. The Islander stares at his master’s face. Then, seeming to
read the direct command there, he grunts with satisfaction, and pulling
his knife from it’s sheath, he goes stealthily off left._ CATES _raises
himself on his haunches to watch the Islander’s movements_. HORNE _and_
BARTLETT _sit still in a strained immobility, their eyes on the chest_.]
CATES--[_In an excited whisper._] I see ’em! They’re sittin’ with their
backs this way! [_A slight pause._] There’s Jimmy. He’s crawlin’ on his
hands behind ’em. They don’t notice--he’s right behind--almost atop o’
them. [_A pause._ CATES _gives a fiendish grunt_.] Ugh! [BUTLER’S
_muffled cry comes from the left_.] Right in the middle of the back! The
cook’s done! The boy’s runnin’! [_There is a succession of quick screams
from the boy, the padding of feet running toward them, the fall of a
body, and the boy’s dying groan._]
HORNE--[_With satisfaction._] It’s done, sir!
BARTLETT--[_Slowly._] I spoke no word, remember that, Silas Horne!
HORNE--[_Cunningly._] Nor me neither, sir. Jimmy took it on himself. If
blame there is--and who’d blame him for it?--it’s on him.
BARTLETT--[_Gloomily._] I spoke no word! [JIMMY _returns noiselessly
from the left_.]
JIMMY--[_Grinning with savage pride._] I fix um fella plenty, Captain.
They no tell. They no open mouth plenty too much!
CATES--[_Maudlinly._] You’re a man, Jimmy--a man with guts to him--even
if you’re a---- [_He babbles incoherently._]
JIMMY--[_As the Captain does not look at him._] I go climb fella tree,
Captain? I make look for schooner?
BARTLETT--[_Rousing himself with an effort._] Yes--go up. [_The Islander
climbs the tree._]
HORNE--[_Getting to his feet--eagerly._] Where away, Jimmy?
JIMMY--She come, Captain, she come plenty quick.
HORNE--[_Looking in the direction_ JIMMY _indicates_.] I kin see her
tops’ls from here, sir. Look!
BARTLETT--[_Getting to his feet--stares out to sea._] Aye! There she
be--and makin’ towards us fast. [_In a flash his sombre preoccupation is
gone, and he is commander once more. He puts the anklet in his hand into
his coat pocket--harshly._] Come down out o’ that? They’s work to do.
[JIMMY _clambers down_.] Did ye leave--them--lyin’ in plain sight on the
open sand?
JIMMY--Yes. I no touch um, Captain.
BARTLETT--Then ye’ll touch ’em now. Go, bury ’em, cover ’em up with
sand. And mind ye make a good job o’ it that none’ll see. Jump now!