They cost at starting from two pounds to three
pounds; but the ones that had died at sea knocked a hole in the
profits.
At Barbadoes Klootz left the womenfolk in a kind of boarding-house,
and hired a pinnace, twenty tons, to take us across to the main,
pretending he wanted to inquire into the market there. Klootz and I
made the whole crew, with A. G., who could not navigate. January 17,
late in the afternoon, we ran down upon Mortallone Island and
anchored off the Kays, north of Gable Point. Next morning we out
with the boat and landed. Time, about three-quarters of an hour
short of low water.
The Kays are nothing but sand. At low water, and for an hour before
and after, you can cross to Gable point dry-shod. We spent that day
getting bearings; dug a little, but nothing to reward us. Next day
we got to work early. Had been digging for two hours, when we turned
up the first body. It turned A. G. poorly in the stomach, and he sat
down to watch us. Half an hour later we struck the first of the
chests. It did not hold more than five shillings' worth, and we saw
that somebody had been there before us.
The third day we turned up three more bodies, besides two chests,
empty as before, and a full one.
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