"And what are we to do?"
"Git cloase to the Cove, then lop round till dark, after that little
Eli'll tell 'ee."
"But why did you take the papers there?"
"People do look everywhere cipt cloase by their own doors. Little Eli
ed'n a fool!"
Now I must confess that all this talk about the buried treasure became
very foolish to me at this time. As I have said, there were many tales
when I was a boy about such things until no one took any heed. Still I
determined to make the most of Eli's knowledge, for if what he suspected
were true, I should be able to buy back Pennington at once, and have the
Tresidders in my power. All the same, I built very little upon it, and
through the day tried to make plans which should be more feasible.
When darkness came on we made our way across Goonhilly Downs and came
down to the cove when the tide was at its ebb. I saw Cap'n Jack's house
in the distance, by means of a light which shone from the window, and
could not help thinking of the morning when I first saw it, and of the
circumstances under which I came thither. Only a little more than a year
had passed away since then, and yet it seemed ages.
"We must be very careful, Eli," I said; "if I am caught by Cap'n Jack's
gang I am a dead man."
"All right," grunted Eli. "You'll not be seed. I'll take care o' that.
Come after me."
He led the way down a beaten track until we came to a deep gorge, by
which we were completely hidden.
When we had reached the bottom of the gorge I stopped suddenly.
"I heard a noise, Eli," I whispered. "Stop, listen!"
We stopped, but all was silent. No wind blew, and so every sound was
easily heard. I ran up the path again, and looked around. The moon had
not yet risen, but the night was clear. Still I could see nothing.
"Maaster Jasper es feartened," grunted Eli; "come on."
I followed him again, and had scarcely reached the beach when a sound
like the crack of a musket reached our ears.
"The devil es blawin' hes billies (bellows) to-night," laughed Eli.
Now, as all the world knows, the devil is supposed to wander much among
the caves in Kynance Cove. Perhaps this is owing to many of the strange
sounds heard there. In one of the caves a terrible hissing sound may be
heard, which is called the "Devil's Frying-Pan;" in another is a deep
hole, from which a vapour like steam comes forth, and this is called the
"Devil's Punch-Bowl." It is also said that he walks in bodily form among
the rocks, and makes great noises with his bellows.
"We need'n fear Cap'n Jack's gang to-night," laughed Eli.
"Why?"
"They never come near 'ere when th'oull Sir Nick is blowin' hes billies
by night."
I remembered the stories I had heard when I lived among them, and
believed he told the truth.
"I shudden like to zee th'oull chap hisself," grunted Eli, with a laugh,
"I shudden mind, though. We cud git our way ef he wos to come. We cud
jist sell ourselves to un, and then you'd bait the Trezidders aisy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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