The wet sand continued to fill in the areas around the oil cloth wrapped chests, making the process frustratingly slow as the two dug their own holes.  For every handful they removed, nine tenths of it filled back in.  Pulling on the trunks didn't work either, there just wasn't enough strength in one person's arms and back to pull it out of the sucking sand on their own.<br/><br/>The drow witch answered Dalen's comment though, "Four ships under his command, but not a month goes by that another ship doesn't agree to sail under his protection.  They stay safe from his ships an they give 'im a cut of their profits."