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Whatever Spurling does, I still hold to my promise. You and I are partners with a common fund. We have eleven thousand dollars already, so cheer up. "But it wasn't envy of your wealth had driven me mad; it was fear lest you should go off and leave me behind, and should get to Guiana and to El Dorado first.
For a moment they remained silent, breathless. Spang! A second shot, distant but distinct, rang out from beyond the brow of the bank behind the cabin. Spurling sprang from his bunk. "Boys!" he shouted. "Somebody's after those sheep! Turn out!" Hurriedly he began dressing. The other four followed his example, fumbling with clumsy fingers in the darkness. Nemo gave a short, sharp bark.
I shall fear to die now; till now I have been afraid only of life." "Why will you fear to die?" "Because I shall meet with Spurling, and then I shall hear God's question and His accusing voice." The priest laid a hand upon his shoulder gently. "Ah, my child, but you forget," he said; "in the country where Spurling has gone he will have learnt how to understand."
The situation was too serious for seasickness. In spite of the jocularity of his words, Jim's voice sounded hollow. Both of them knew that it meant a hard fight to reach Tarpaulin. Silence, gray and leaden as the misty sky, settled over the dory. Spurling was throwing all the strength he possessed into every stroke; Percy bailed continuously.
But I warn you fairly, no man, unless he leaves the gold behind him, can make that journey by himself with any hope of surviving. Our last chance, whether we want to reach El Dorado or merely to save our lives, is to stick together and persuade ourselves that we are friends." "I'll stand by you," Spurling said; "I'm no more anxious to die by the rope or starvation than you are yourself.
Furiously he began scooping out the water. After a long, discouraging fight the boat was bailed clear. "We've got to run before it while I rig another drug," said Spurling. "Keep her as she is." In the stern stood a five-gallon can of gasolene, one of the few things that had not been washed overboard when the dory filled.
The cause had come when Spurling, tired with rocking the cradle, his face and hands swollen by the sun and mosquito-bitten, had said, "I don't see why we should take all this trouble. I'm going to quit work." Granger was attending to the flume which they had constructed. "You're going to do no such thing," he had said. "Yes, I am; you're not my master and I shan't ask your permission.
On visiting the trading-store he found that his canoe was lying there, just as he had brought it back; nothing of its contents had been removed or unpacked. He sat down beside it, and tried to formulate his plans. So far, in spite of his illness, everything had happened for the best. Spurling was safe until he should require him. The gold was now in his absolute possession.
Looking up, he saw that they had struck the bank and come near capsizing. And he saw more than that; scarcely two yards away a pair of glowing eyes shone out at him. "For the sake of God, make haste," cried Spurling; "the brute's about to pounce." With a twist of the paddle he swung the canoe's head round, and with the help of Spurling drove her out.
Spurling," said Jonathan, who overheard the whisper, "you owe your situation to me. If you have aided Jack Sheppard's escape, you shall owe your discharge to me also." "As you please, Sir," replied the tapstress, coolly. "And the next time Captain Darrell wants a witness, I promise you he shan't look for one in vain."
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