I was awakened by the voices of the robbers, who were leaving the cave early in order to complete their raft by nightfall. It was evident that they had not suspected our intrusion into their retreat, or the fact that their stolen treasure had been taken from them. Indeed, they seemed in high spirits, especially Larkin and Judson, who were doubtless eager to carry out their nefarious plan of murdering their comrades as soon as the work on the raft was finished. Daggett might also harbor a conspiracy to secure the bulk of the treasure, and probably all the members of the evil band were looking forward to this coming night to end their suspense and give them an advantage one over the other. “Honor among thieves” has often been quoted; but in this instance, as in many others that could be mentioned, the thieves were as lacking in honor as they were in honesty. From my elevated perch I watched them file along the ledge to the sands, and upon reaching the level set off toward the forest. Not till they were well out of sight did Nux or I venture to rise upright and stretch our limbs.
The morning was warm and sultry. The sun gleamed hot in a cloudless sky and not a breath of air stirred the leaves of the three tall trees that stood at the edge of our towering rock.
“It’s going to be a roasting day,” I said to Nux, “and we won’t get any shade from those trees until afternoon. Do you suppose we dare go down to the cave for a while.”
Nux shook his head.
“We all safe now, Mars Sam,” he replied. “Better not run no risk wid dis yeah gold dust.”
Thoughtfully I gazed toward the forest.
“Those fellows will be cool and comfortable enough in the shade,” I remarked, rebelliously, “and I don’t believe they’ll come back through the hot sun until it’s time to get the treasure. Let’s go down to the sea and take a swim.”
Nux was unable to resist the temptation; so, leaving the trousers full of golden grains resting on top of the rock, we made our way cautiously along the narrow, winding ledge until we reached the shore.
There was not a ripple on the sea. It lay as still and inert as a sheet of glass; but the water was cool, nevertheless, when compared with the stifling atmosphere, and so I and my black companion paddled in it for more than an hour, feeling much refreshed by our luxurious bath.
Afterward we ate our simple breakfast and then climbed the ledge as far as the mouth of the cave, where we sat down in the shade. Even that slight exertion quite exhausted us.
“We will be sure to hear them if they should by chance return,” said I, “and we’ll certainly be roasted if we get on top of this rock, where the sun can strike us. I believe it’s the hottest day I ever knew.”
Meantime the men in the forest were finding their work far from pleasant, as Bryonia afterward told us. They were shaded from the sun, it is true; but the air they breathed was as hot as if it came fresh from an oven, and the least exertion caused the perspiration to stream from their pores. So there was considerable grumbling among them and a general shirking of work that made their progress slow. Even Bryonia, who was fairly heat-proof, found he had little energy to swing his axe, although he made a pretense of working as industriously as ever.
“Never mind, boys,” said Daggett, when noon had arrived and they were eating the luncheon they had brought in their pockets. “The raft will be big enough to carry us and the gold to the ship, I’m sure, for the sea is as still as a mill-pond. We’ll just get these two logs to the shore, and fasten them to the others, and call the thing a go. What do you say?”
They agreed with him readily enough. As a matter of fact the raft might suffice to carry them all, but none of them believed that all five would embark upon it, so many murderous schemes were lurking in their minds.
Wearily they dragged the two logs toward the sea, but much time was consumed in this operation, and the day was far spent before the raft was complete and ready to launch.
Most of the men had stripped themselves naked, to work more comfortably, for the heat was well-nigh unbearable; but now, as they stood ready to push the raft into the water, the sun suddenly disappeared and a cold chill swept over them.
“We’re going to have a storm,&r............