Robert was in fear lest they turn back, and a wider search elsewhere would surely take them to his house.

But the men were now using English.
"There should be water ahead," said the swart leader.

"We're going down into a dip, and that's just the place where springs are found." Another man, also short and dark, urged that they turn back, but the leader prevailed.
"There must be water farther on," he said.

"I was never on this island before, neither were you, Jose, but it's not likely the trees and bushes would grow so thick down there if plenty of water didn't soak their roots." He had his way and they went on, with Robert stalking them on a parallel line in the undergrowth, and now he knew they would find the water.

The spirit of the island was watching over its own, and, by giving them what they wanted at once, would send these evil characters away.