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.
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