They could see that this conduct had lulled to rest any suspicion of their captors that they might attempt an escape.

The sentry no longer kept in their immediate vicinity, and although he retained his gun in his hand, did so as a mere form.

The others went about their business, several of them absenting themselves for hours together; and at one time but three men, including the guard, remained at the encampment.
The boys kept every faculty on the alert, and were ready to seize the first opportunity, however slight, which might offer itself.

They agreed, that however much their guard might be reduced, it would be unsafe to make the attempt in the daytime, as they were wholly ignorant of the way down to the sea, and the shouts of their pursuers would be sure to attract the attention of any of the party who might have gone in that direction.
As to the two days assigned for payment, they did not anticipate that the crisis would arrive at the end of that time, as they felt sure that the "Falcon" would have sailed before the messenger could have arrived, in which case fresh negotiations would probably be set on foot.
So it proved.

On the evening of the day after his departure, the messenger returned, and the news that he brought was greeted with an outburst of ejaculations of anger and disappointment on the part of the brigands.