That being so, being in fact almost a certainty—­the “King” spoke as though he would be a much disappointed man otherwise—­we must look to our garrison.  After all, besides ourselves, we had but Samson and Erebus, and their dark brethren of doubtful courage, while Tobias probably had command of a round dozen of doughty desperadoes.  On the whole, perhaps, he said, it might be best to avail ourselves of the crew of the Flamingo—­“under cover of the dark,” he repeated with a smile.

Yes! that must be the first step.  We must get them up there that night, under cover of the dark; keep them well hidden, and—­well! await developments.  Charlie Webster might be expected any moment with his reinforcements, and then!—­“Lay on, Macduff!”

While we had been talking, Samson had long since been on his way with the word to Sweeney to look out for Webster, and, as he had been admonished to hurry back, it was scarcely noon when he returned, bringing in exchange a verbal message from Sweeney.

“The pock-marked party,” ran the message as delivered by Samson, “had left the harbour in his sloop that morning.  Yes, sar!”

“Ha! ha!” laughed the “King,” turning to me.  “So two can play at that game, says Henry P. Tobias, Jr.  But if we haven’t fooled him, let’s make sure that he hasn’t fooled us.  We’ll bring up your crew all the same—­what do you think?”

“Under cover of the dark,” I assented.

CHAPTER XII

In Which the “King” Imprisons Me with Some Old Books and Pictures.

Nothing further transpired that day, and, at nightfall, we brought the crew of the Flamingo up to the house—­all but two of them, whom we left on guard.  Two out of six was rather more than we had bargained for, but we found that none of them had the courage to face the night there in that dismal swamp alone—­and we couldn’t blame them, for a more devil-haunted desolation could not be imagined even in the daylight, and the mere thought of what might go on there after dark was enough to uncurl the wool on the head of the bravest negro.  And we agreed, too, that the watch should be changed nightly, a fresh pair going on duty each evening.

Then there was nothing to do but sit down and await events—­amongst them, the coming of Charlie Webster.

In regard to this, we had decided that it would be as well that, instead of disembarking at the settlement, he should come and join the Flamingo in the hidden creek; so Samson was once more despatched down to Sweeney with a letter for him to hand to Charlie on his arrival, giving him direction how to find us.  Meanwhile, our two men on the Flamingo could keep watch for him by day, and have a light burning for him at the entrance of the creek by night.