"Eight less!" exclaimed Pencroft."Really, one would have thought that Mr.Spilett and Ayrton had given the word to fire together!""Gentlemen," said Ayrton, as he reloaded his gun, "this is becoming more serious.The brig is making sail!""The anchor is weighed!" exclaimed Pencroft.
"Yes, and she is already moving."
In fact, they could distinctly hear the creaking of the windlass.The "Speedy" was at first held by her anchor; then, when that had been raised, she began to drift towards the shore.The wind was blowing from the sea;the jib and the foretopsail were hoisted, and the vessel gradually approached the island.
From the two posts of the Mercy and the Chimneys they watched her without giving a sign of life, but not without some emotion.What could be more terrible for the colonists than to be exposed, at a short distance, to the brig's guns, without being able to reply with any effect? How could they then prevent the pirates from landing?
Cyrus Harding felt this strongly, and he asked himself what it would be possible to do.Before long, he would be called upon for his determination.
But what was it to be? To shut themselves up in Granite House, to be besieged there, to remain there for weeks, for months even, since they had an abundance of provisions? So far good! But after that? The pirates would not the less be masters of the island, which they would ravage at their pleasure, and in time, they would end by having their revenge on the prisoners in Granite House.
However, one chance yet remained; it was that Bob Harvey, after all, would not venture his ship into the channel, and that he would keep outside the islet.He would be still separated from the coast by half a mile, and at that distance his shot could not be very destructive.
"Never!" repeated Pencroft, "Bob Harvey will never, if he is a good seaman, enter that channel! He knows well that it would risk the brig, if the sea got up ever so little! And what would become of him without his vessel?"In the meanwhile the brig approached the islet, and it could be seen that she was endeavoring to make the lower end.The breeze was light, and as the current had then lost much of its force, Bob Harvey had absolute command over his vessel.
The route previously followed by the boats had allowed her to reconnoiter the channel, and she boldly entered it.
The pirate's design was now only too evident; he wished to bring her broadside to bear on the Chimneys and from there to reply with shell and ball to the shot which had till then decimated her crew.
Soon the "Speedy" reached the point of the islet; she rounded it with ease; the mainsail was braced up, and the brig hugging the wind, stood across the mouth of the Mercy.
"The scoundrels! they are coming!" said Pencroft.
At that moment, Cyrus Harding, Ayrton, the sailor, and Herbert, were rejoined by Neb and Gideon Spilett.
The reporter and his companion had judged it best to abandon the post at the Mercy, from which they could do nothing against the ship, and they had acted wisely.It was better that the colonists should be together at the moment when they were about to engage in a decisive action.Gideon Spilett and Neb had arrived by dodging behind the rocks, though not without attracting a shower of bullets, which had not, however, reached them.
"Spilett! Neb!" cried the engineer."You are not wounded?""No," answered the reporter, "a few bruises only from the ricochet! But that cursed brig has entered the channel!""Yes," replied Pencroft, "and in ten minutes she will have anchored before Granite House!""Have you formed any plan, Cyrus?" asked the reporter.
"We must take refuge in Granite House while there is still time, and the convicts cannot see us.""That is, my opinion, too," replied Gideon Spilett, "but once shut up--""We must be guided by circumstances," said the engineer.
"Let us be off, then, and make haste!" said the reporter.
"Would you not wish, captain, that Ayrton and I should remain here?"asked the sailor.
"What would be the use of that, Pencroft?" replied Harding."No.We will not separate!"There was not a moment to be lost.The colonists left the Chimneys.Abend of the cliff prevented them from being seen by those in the brig, but two or three reports, and the crash of bullets on the rock, told them that the "Speedy" was at no great distance.
To spring into the lift, hoist themselves up to the door of Granite House, where Top and Jup had been shut up since the evening before, to rush into the large room, was the work of a minute only.
It was quite time, for the settlers, through the branches, could see the "Speedy," surrounded with smoke, gliding up the channel.The firing was incessant, and shot from the four guns struck blindly, both on the Mercy post, although it was not occupied, and on the Chimneys.The rocks were splintered, and cheers accompanied each discharge.However, they were hoping that Granite House would be spared, thanks to Harding's precaution of concealing the windows when a shot, piercing the door, penetrated into the passage.
"We are discovered!" exclaimed Pencroft.
The colonists had not, perhaps, been seen, but it was certain that Bob Harvey had thought proper to send a ball through the suspected foliage which concealed that part of the cliff.Soon he redoubled his attack, when another ball having torn away the leafy screen, disclosed a gaping aperture in the granite.
The colonists' situation was desperate.Their retreat was discovered.
They could not oppose any obstacle to these missiles, nor protect the stone, which flew in splinters around them.There was nothing to be done but to take refuge in the upper passage of Granite House, and leave their dwelling to be devastated, when a deep roar was heard, followed by frightful cries!
Cyrus Harding and his companions rushed to one of the windows--The brig, irresistibly raised on a sort of water-spout, had just split in two, and in less than ten seconds she was swallowed up with all her criminal crew!
