Night had fallen again, and to ensure against further surprise, Dutch, Mr Parkley, and the captain were all on deck, well-armed and watchful, meaning to keep their posts till daybreak, when the schooner was to start on the head of the tide. Nothing more had been seen of the men set ashore, for they had plunged at once into the forest; and the Cuban was so well secured that little was to be feared from him; but all the same an uneasy feeling prevailed, and Dutch told himself that he should not feel satisfied till they were well at sea, and on reporting this to Mr Parkley, that individual replied: "Neither shall I, Dutch Pugh, nor yet when we have got the treasure safe home; for you see if that scoundrel does not go to law. What's that you say, Rasp?" he said, turning sharply, for the old man was close behind. "Oh, don't you take no notice of me. I was only chuntering to myself. I couldn't help hearing what you said to Mr Pugh there." Almost contrary to their expectations, the night passed without any alarm, and at daybreak, the tide still not serving for a couple of hours, Dutch and his friends went to lie down, leaving the deck in charge of Oakum and Rasp, with instructions to call them at a specified time. Dutch, however, felt that he could hardly have dropped asleep when a strange feeling of uneasiness came over him, and, reproaching himself for leaving the deck even now, he awoke fully to sit up and try to get rid of the confusion which oppressed him. For a few moments he could not tell whether he was awake, or dreaming that he was once more busy diving, for there was the clanking of the air-pump, splashing of water beside him, and heavy feet passing overhead. But it was no dream. Hardly had the deck been placed in charge of its deputies, than Rasp beckoned up 'Pollo and the two sailors who had been so faithful to them, and began to talk in a low voice, saying something which evidently gave them the greatest satisfaction, and Rasp softly chuckled and rubbed his hands as he turned to Oakum. "I don't like it," said the old fellow; "it's cowardly." "Not it," said Rasp; "and if it is, what then? I only mean to give him a dose of it, and if he dies, why that's his fault." "And ours," said Oakum. "Yah!" ejaculated Rasp. "Look here, old squeamish, that chap's a tiger, and if he gets loose, he'll be the death of all on us, won't he?" "Devil a doubt on it," said Oakum. "Very well, then: I've got a score to pay him off," growled Rasp; "so's them poor fellows who've got the mark of his knife on them; and, besides, I kep him from cutting my soots to pieces on purpose to give him a taste." "But it's like murder," said Oakum. "It was like murder for him to cut that there chube when the best diver in England was down; and now we'll see how he likes it." "What, and cut the toob?" said Oakum, with a look of horror on his honest face. "Not I. I'll only send the warmint down, and give him a quarter of an hour, that's all."