Part 29 (1/2)

”Not yet,” he returned. ”It's not--” And then he opened his eyes.

”What the Sam--” he began. And he gazed on Robert and myself, wonderingly.

”Say!” he continued. ”You spoiled the most scrumptious dream I ever had.

I was sailing through the clouds--that soft and nice--on the way to the gold mine. But I suppose you kids have got your pockets full of gold; let's see the color of it; what have you done with Duran and the rest of those voodoos? Do you know I came up on top of this hill so's to get a good running start if that polecat (as Norris calls him) got after me; well, what have you been up to--why don't you say something?”

”Say something!” I mocked. I guess my smile nettled him.

”Say,” he began again, ”if I talked as much as you don't, Wayne, my tongue would soon grow callouses on it. But back to business,” he continued. ”What have you done with that Duran? I haven't seen him for a c.o.o.n's age. I've got so I'm not happy if I don't see him around.”

”Take us to the _Pearl_,” I answered, ”and I'll tell you all there is to tell.”

We descended the hill, and Ray led us to that bay, a mile and a half west, even past the spot where Robert, Carlos, and I had first pulled up our little boat. A half mile more, and we came upon the _Pearl_, looking pretty in the moonlight, resting just within a deep water inlet, and hidden behind the tall cocoanut palms. A low whistle brought the small boat to sh.o.r.e for us.

It was again a happy reunion, and there came the exchange of tales. That of the _Pearl's_ adventures was simple; they had mended those augur-bored leaks with little difficulty. But they were delayed thirty-odd hours, waiting for a spring tide, enough to float them off.

The voyage round the upper end of the island had been without unusual happenings. Captain Marat had seen fit to pa.s.s the city after dark; and his chart had guided him to the present berth of the _Pearl_, the markings on the map showing water a plenty; and it seemed a likely hiding place, one Duran and his voodoos were not apt to visit, if Carlos' account of their usual practice had any value.

”I mightily would like to have a look at that place where you lost that skunk's trail,” observed Norris. ”That gold mine can't be very far away from there, and we'll find it whether or no.”

”And where did they go with the _Orion_, do you think?” asked Julian.

”They sail her on down thee coast, to draw us away from here, w'en we come,” said Captain Marat.

”It's a wonder they didn't go into Crow Bay,” said Norris. ”It's a fine hiding place, according to the chart.”

”And yet Duran might have considered it too near the place he's wanting to hide from us,” I offered.

”Well, now, when are we going to get up there where Carlos is?” said Norris, impatient to be doing.

”Say, Wayne,” said Ray. ”Norris has pretty nigh worn out the deck, tramping up and down; and over there on sh.o.r.e his clod-hoppers have flattened out all the gra.s.s for a mile around. For heaven's sake sick him after that 'polecat' before he starts an earthquake.”

Julian volunteered to remain behind with Rufe and the sailors to guard the schooner. Captain Marat, Norris, Ray, Robert, and myself, set off to rejoin Carlos. The little boat was well laden with the five of us in her, but it was quiet water we moved on.

It was broad day, which suited us illy, since we did not wish to be seen in the region by anyone who might get the news to Duran. But in the crossing of Crow Bay, only Robert and I showed our faces above the gunwale; and the visible portions of our skins, it will be remembered, were stained black.

We concealed the rowboat again among the reeds, not far from where lay that canoe of Duran's, and it was not long till we had joined Carlos.

”Duran--no one--come,” reported Carlos.

”Well, it's up to us to find out where he's gone,” said Grant Norris.

”Well, here's the chance you've been steaming for,” said Ray. ”Here's the end of the trail, where it goes into the water; only I'll bet he took to a balloon right here. You know, too, I dreamed of a balloon last night, and if Wayne hadn't waked me just when he did, I'd be at that gold mine right now.”

”Yes,” returned Norris, ”and you'd have to go to sleep to dream yourself back again.”

”Well,” shot back Ray, ”why not? Maybe the gold mine is all a dream, after all.”