There was no difficulty in finding the place where Gil had sunk through the bottom of the passage. The earth had given way at one side of the tunnel, until a hole fully a yard square was formed, and, peering into this, the excited ones could see a small chamber, which was evidently hewn from the solid rock.
The size or shape could not be determined, but that made little difference just then, so eager were all to know what was concealed beneath.
“You two wait to help us up,” Jenkins said to the sailors, “and after we’ve had a squint at the place you shall have a chance.”
“Will stayin’ here keep us out of a share of the stuff?” one of the men asked, as if doubtful whether he would be dealt with fairly.
“Not a bit of it,” Gil replied, quickly. “I suppose you will be satisfied to have father make a division of everything that’s found, and what he says is fair you shall have.”
“We’re ready to trust to the captain’s way of sizin’ the thing up.”
“I reckon you’ll have to be,” Jenkins growled, “for when it comes down to what is square, neither of us are entitled to anything. The picture belonged to the boys, an’ we come here in the captain’s employ, drawin’ good wages, so the profits of the voyage oughter go to him the same as if the _Day Dream_ had got these diamonds for freightin’ a cargo.”
“But this ain’t the same thing as freightin’, by a long shot,” was the sulky reply. “We’re on land now, an’ the yacht is at the bottom, consequently we’re our own masters.”
“You won’t say that when it comes to a question of drawin’ wages.”
“It ain’t any sure thing that we’ll be paid for this kind of work.”
“Now see here,” Gil said, in a tone of authority, “we won’t have any quarreling. Whatever treasure may be found shall benefit all hands in such proportion as father may think best, though, of course, it wouldn’t be right to divide it into even shares.”
“We don’t expect as much as he gets, but want a fair divvy,” the second man said, sulkily, and the boys understood that the finding of the diamonds had but given them a new cause for anxiety, since the sailors, made greedy by the sight of the gems, might prove worse enemies even than the blacks.
“You heard the promise that Gil made, which was more than reasonable, considerin’ they’re entitled to everything if the matter should go inter a court of law, an’ now hold your tongues,” Jenkins said, angrily. “We’re standin’ here fightin’ when at least one of us should be in the shaft to know if anything is goin’ on wrong outside, an’ there’ll be plenty of time to settle the division part when we’ve found all that’s below.”