Part 37 (1/2)

At last Robert became conscious of a new sound, seeming to come from some point way down the creek. In another minute it had grown more distinct, and he knew it for the gentle and regular dip of a paddle. And presently, a black ma.s.s showed between the banks. And then a canoe poked its nose to sh.o.r.e, not forty feet from where Robert crouched by the tree trunk.

The canoeist secured the painter to a root in the bank, and forthwith moved to the cascade. In five minutes that figure appeared again, and Robert saw him stoop over the edge of the canoe and distribute something on its bottom. When he went back a second trip, Robert made a hurried visit to the canoe and satisfied himself that it was the gold-laden bamboo that found placement there. Four trips that figure made, all told, and then loosed the painter and re-embarked, moving quietly down the stream in the dark.

Now, Robert took to the path and sped on down the way the others had gone. He found them awaiting him in the skiff.

”He's got all the gold in the canoe,” Robert explained. ”And he's on the way.”

”Thad w'at I been thinking,” said Captain Marat. ”He go roun' by one lagoon an' fin' thee creek. I think I have see where thad lagoon, it go in. We go there an' see.”

So the three set the skiff in motion, skirting the marsh-gra.s.s, till they came to where a narrow channel opened inland.

”Another one leedle more down,” said Jean Marat; ”maybe he come out thad one.”

They had got the boat to within view of the opening of that next

channel, when an object shot out from behind the gra.s.s.

”Down--queek!” spoke Marat, in a hurried whisper.

All ducked their heads and lay quiet for some minutes. Then they ventured to peer over the gunwale, and saw the canoe as a dark ma.s.s, moving steadily away down the bay.

”He didn't see us,” observed Robert.

”No,” agreed Marat, ”fortunate' he did not look round.”

There was little doubt as to Duran's destination, so the three made the pa.s.sage leisurely down over the same route they had rowed that other night. And they turned the skiff up that same creek of the mainland.

This time they were determined on a bolder move than before. They meant to risk discovery, and land with the boat on that little island, though under cover of night. Carlos and Robert--who, like myself, still retained his black-stained face and hands--were to remain in hiding throughout the coming day, and observe, if possible, how Duran should dispose of that gold he had taken from Carlos' mine. The while, Captain Marat would hold the skiff over at the mainland, ready to pick them up the following night, when Duran shall have departed from the island again.

They waited till midnight, and then rowed to the isle where Robert and Carlos disembarked.

”Two flashes will be the signal,” said Robert in a whisper.

”All right,” returned Marat. And he rowed away.

The two crawled into the shelter of the brush. In time, they had gained the clearing in which stood the little hut. No gleam of light shone there. Creeping close, they could hear the snoring of one, and the heavy breathing of another sleeper within. This was enough. They got to the sh.o.r.e again, and found where the skiff of the isle was lying on the beach.

”Well, Carlos,” said Robert, ”suppose we have a snooze. There won't be anything going on till daylight.”

”Yes,” agreed Carlos.

And they crawled into a close piece of underbrush.

Carlos was the first abroad when day had come. Robert missed him when he opened his eyes; but he had hardly finished rubbing the sleep from them when Carlos appeared, to say that the negro was already setting off in the skiff for a trip to mainland.

”That Duran is sending him off on an errand again,” observed Robert, ”so he will be alone to bury the gold.”

”Yes,” said Carlos. ”I heard Duran say to him that he must not forget to bring the drug. He say something about someone who do not work anything without he have the drug.”