For an hour he sat thus in silence, until, assured that all were asleep before him, he arose and with a few whispered instructions commenced the descent of the cliff toward the cove below.Scarce had he started, however, with his men stringing in single file behind him, than he came to a sudden halt, for below him in the camp that lay between the girl's shelter and the westerly camp a figure had arisen stealthily from among his fellows.
It was Theriere.Cautiously he moved to a sleeper nearby whom he shook gently until he had awakened him.
"Hush, Byrne," cautioned the Frenchman."It is I, Theriere.
Help me awaken the others--see that there is no noise.""Wot's doin'?" queried the mucker.
"We are going to break camp, and occupy the new location before that bunch of pirates can beat us to it," whispered Theriere in reply; "and," he added, "we're going to take the salvage and the girl with us."The mucker grinned.
"Gee!" he said."Won't dey be a sore bunch in de mornin'?"The work of awakening the balance of the party required but a few minutes and when the plan was explained to them, all seemed delighted with the prospect of discomfiting Skipper Simms and Squint Eye.It was decided that only the eatables be carried away on the first trip, and that if a second trip was possible before dawn the clothing, canvas, and cordage that had been taken from the water might then be purloined.
Miller and Swenson were detailed to bring up the rear with Miss Harding, assisting her up the steep side of the cliff.
Divine was to act as guide to the new camp, lending a hand wherever necessary in the scaling of the heights with the loot.
Cautiously the party, with the exception of Divine, Miller, and Swenson, crept toward the little pile of supplies that were heaped fifty or sixty feet from the sleeping members of Simms'
faction.The three left behind walked in silence to Barbara Harding's shelter.Here Divine scratched at the piece of sail cloth which served as a door until he had succeeded in awakening the sleeper within.And from above Oda Yorimoto watched the activity in the little cove with intent and unwavering eyes.
The girl, roused from a fitful slumber, came to the doorway of her primitive abode, alarmed by this nocturnal summons.
"It is I, Larry," whispered the man."Are you dressed?""Yes," replied the girl, stepping out into the moonlight.
"What do you want? What has happened?"
"We are going to take you away from Simms--Theriere and I," replied the man, "and establish a safe camp of our own where they cannot molest you.Theriere and the others have gone for the supplies now and as soon as they return we further preparations to make, Barbara, please make haste, as we must get away from here as quickly as possible.Should any of Simms' people awaken there is sure to be a fight."The girl turned back into the shelter to gather together a handful of wraps that had been saved from the wreck.
Down by the salvage Theriere, Byrne, Bony Sawyer, Red Sanders, Blanco, and Wison were selecting the goods that they wished to carry with them.It was found that two trips would be necessary to carry off the bulk of the rations, so Theriere sent the mucker to summon Miller and Swenson.
"We'll carry all that eight of us can to the top of the cliffs,"he said "hide it there and then come back for the balance.
We may be able to get it later if we are unable to make two trips to the camp tonight."While they were waiting for Byrne to return with the two recruits one of the sleepers in Simms' camp stirred.Instantly the five marauders dropped stealthily to the ground behind the boxes and casks.Only Theriere kept his eyes above the level of the top of their shelter that he might watch the movements of the enemy.
