Although the moonlight rendered outlines indistinct to the extent that it was impossible to see the exact expressions on their faces, the boys could all determine from their tense attitudes that they were intensely wrought up by their mission there.

A warning hand was extended by Wyckoff toward the rowers.  One of the negroes had been clumsy with his oar.  The noise of the splash evidently grated on Wyckoff’s nerves.  His very attitude bespoke a nervous energy pent up and on the point of bursting forth.

By his side stood Lopez, his trusty rifle in hand.  As they saw the weapon, the boys who had seen him use it in times past knew that his skill with the firearm was marvelous indeed.  They knew it would fare ill with anyone upon whom he trained it.

“Wonder why they’ve brought their gang,” cautiously whispered Harry into Jack’s ear.  “They’ve been mighty exclusive until now.”

“Hush,” cautioned Jack in a very low voice.  “These others are simply negroes they have picked up somewhere to do the digging.  These are not men who might thwart the Wyckoff and Lopez purpose.”

“Better be careful about your talking,” cautioned Harrison.  “If all the story is true it will be necessary to dig the treasure in silence if it is to be recovered at all.  Any noise breaks the spell if it occurs before the chest is fully out of its cache.”

“We won’t make any noise, you can be sure of that,” declared Harry.  “We’ve seen that man Lopez shoot.  We know how he does it.”

Evidently the men approaching the shore had been fully cautioned in regard to the necessity for quiet.  The crew sprang out and dragged the craft high and dry on the sands, then removed the shovels.

“They mean business all right,” declared Arnold in Harry’s ear.  “See how Lopez herds those field hands along with that rifle.”

“He just poked one fellow in the back with it,” answered Harry.  “The lad just stumbled a little and Lopez jabbed him in the back.  I’ll bet that fellow’s too scared to dig much.”

“Look at the fellow,” excitedly whispered Jack.  “He’s going right to the spot where we located the treasure.  He’s got the map in his head, all right.  He knows just where to dig.”

“Gee,” shivered Tom, “I’m mighty glad this clump of palmettos here is between us and them.  With the bright moonlight they’d see us a mile away.  Wouldn’t Lopez have a fit if he saw us?”

Luckily Lopez and Wyckoff were too much occupied with their own affairs to investigate the neighborhood for possible spectators.  They immediately put the men shoveling sand at a great pace.

“I hope they don’t dig it up all at once,” declared Tom.  “Look at the way they go at it,” he cried.  “See them spear their shovels into the ground without using their foot at all.”

“Hark your loud noise,” hoarsely whispered Jack in a warning tone.  “You’ll have the whole gang down on us if you’re not careful.”