"MON DIEU! I shall see them in the dark forever--the eyes
that you see, and those that you don't see, but feel--ah, they
are the worst."
All were silent for a moment, and then Jane spoke.
"And he is out there," she said, in an awe-hushed whisper.
"Those eyes will be glaring at him to-night, and at your
comrade Lieutenant D'Arnot. Can you leave them, gentlemen,
without at least rendering them the passive succor which
remaining here a few days longer might insure them?"
"Tut, tut, child," said Professor Porter. "Captain Dufranne
is willing to remain, and for my part I am perfectly willing,
perfectly willing--as I always have been to humor your
childish whims."
"We can utilize the morrow in recovering the chest,
Professor," suggested Mr. Philander.
"Quite so, quite so, Mr. Philander, I had almost forgotten
the treasure," exclaimed Professor Porter. "Possibly we can
borrow some men from Captain Dufranne to assist us, and
one of the prisoners to point out the location of the chest."
"Most assuredly, my dear Professor, we are all yours to
command," said the captain.
And so it was arranged that on the next day Lieutenant
Charpentier was to take a detail of ten men, and one of the
mutineers of the Arrow as a guide, and unearth the treasure;
and that the cruiser would remain for a full week in the little
harbor. At the end of that time it was to be assumed that
D'Arnot was truly dead, and that the forest man would not
return while they remained.
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