Chapter XXIX

There was no longer room for doubt as to the pirate’s intentions. They had cast anchor at a short distance from the island, and evidently intended to land on the morrow. The colonists knew now that the pirate ship carried heavy artillery, against which they had nothing but a few shot-guns.

“Still,” said Smith, “the enemy cannot discover the opening in the weir, so thickly it is covered with reeds and grass, and consequently cannot penetrate into Granite House.”

“But our plantations, our poultry-yard, our corral!” cried Pencroff. “They can destroy everything in a few hours!”

“Are there many of them?” said the reporter. “That’s the question. If there are only a dozen, we can stop them.”

“Mr. Smith,” said Ayrton, coming up to the engineer, “I want to go to the ship and ascertain how strongly it is manned.”

“But, Ayrton,” said the engineer, hesitating, “your life will be in danger.”

“And why not, sir?”

“That is more than your duty.”

“I must do more than my duty,” replied Ayrton.

“You mean to go to the ship in the canoe?” asked Spilett.

“No, sir. I will swim to it. A man can slip in where a boat could not pass.”

“Do you know that the brig is a mile and a half from the coast?” said Herbert.

“I am a good swimmer, sir.”

“I repeat to you that you are risking your life,” resumed the engineer.

“No matter,” answered Ayrton. “It may raise me in my own estimation.”

“Go, Ayrton,” said the engineer.

“I will go with you,” said Pencroff.

“You distrust me!” said Ayrton quickly.

“No, no!” cried Smith eagerly. “Pencroff has no such feeling. You have misunderstood him.”

“Just so,” answered the sailor. “I am proposing to Ayrton to accompany him only as far as the islet. I will wait for him there.”

Everything was arranged and Ayrton got ready for departure. His project was bold but not impracticable, thanks to the dark night. They walked down upon the beach. Ayrton shook hands with everyone, got into the boat with Pencroff, and pushed off into the darkness. It was now half past 10, and the others went back to wait at the Chimneys.

They moved cautiously, but the island was deserted. The two walked rapidly over it, frightening the birds from their nests in the rocks. Ayrton cast himself into the sea, and swam noiselessly towards the ship’s lights. Pencroff hid himself among the rocks, to await his companion’s return.

Ayrton swam strongly towards the ship, slipping through the water. His head only appeared above the surface; his eyes were fixed on the dark hull of the brig. The current was in his favor, and the shore was soon far behind.

Half an hour afterwards, Ayrton dived under the ship, and clung with one hand to the bowsprit. Then he raised himself by the chains. There were some sailors’ clothes, and he put them on. Then he found a good position and listened.

People on board were not asleep. They were talking, singing, and laughing. These words came to Ayrton’s ears:

“What a famous brig we’ve got!”

“The Speedy deserves its name.”

“Hurrah for our commander! Hurrah for Bob Harvey!”

Ayrton knew the man: Bob Harvey was one of his companions, who had followed out his criminal projects. Bob took this brig, charged with arms, ammunition, utensils, and tools of all kinds. All his men, pirates and criminals, were destroying ships and massacring their crews.

The colonists were in very serious danger. The island would be just what the convicts want. In their hands it would become an excellent place of refuge. Of course the colonists would instantly be put to death. It would be a struggle for life and death with these wretches, every one of whom must be destroyed. Those were Ayrton’s thoughts, and he knew that Smith would agree with him. But was a successful resistance possible? Everything depended on the brig’s guns and the number of its men.

Ayrton walked completely around the vessel and ascertained that the Speedy carried four guns. He discovered also that the guns were modern, easily worked, and capable of doing great damage. There were about fifty men on board. Nothing remained for Ayrton but to go back to his comrades with the information he had gathered, and he began walking towards the forecastle to let himself down into the sea.

Ayrton lowered himself carefully between decks, where he found many of the pirates lying about, overcome by drunkenness. At the foot of the mainmast hung a rack full of all sorts of firearms. Ayrton took from the rack a revolver. It was all that he needed to accomplish the work of destruction.

Just then a hand was laid upon his shoulder.

“What are you doing there?” said a harsh voice.

Ayrton turned around sharply. He saw his old accomplice, Harvey; but the latter failed to recognize him.

“What are you doing there?” said Harvey. Ayrton made no answer but a vigorous push, and sprang forward.

“Help, lads!” cried Harvey.

Two or three pirates, roused by his voice, threw themselves upon Ayrton. He rid himself of them with two shots from his revolver; but received a wound from a knife in the fleshy part of the shoulder.

Ayrton rushed towards the ladder which led to the deck of the brig.

Two or three pirates, awakened by the noise, were coming down the ladder at that moment. In two bounds Ayrton was on the brig’s deck, and three seconds afterwards he leaped into the sea.

Finally, at half past 12, a boat with two men came along shore. It was Ayrton, with a slight wound in his shoulder, and Pencroff. Their friends received them with open arms.

Then all took refuge at the Chimneys. There Ayrton told them all that happened. Everyone grasped the man’s hand, but the situation was desperate. The pirates knew that Lincoln Island was inhabited. They would respect nothing. If the colonists fall into their hands the pirates will kill them!

“We can die like men,” said the reporter.

“Do you think there is any chance, Mr. Smith?” said the sailor.

“Yes, Pencroff.”

“How! Six against fifty!”

“Yes, six and one other.”

“Who?” asked Pencroff.

Smith did not answer, but he looked upwards.

Chapter XXX

The night passed without incident. The colonists were still at the Chimneys. The pirates made no attempt at landing. But when daylight began to appear the colonists could see the Speedy through the morning mists.

“Listen, my friends,” said the engineer. “We must make these convicts believe that the inhabitants of the island are numerous and able to resist them. Let us divide ourselves into three groups, one posted at the Chimneys, one at the mouth of the Mercy, and the third upon the islet. We have two carbines and four guns, so that each of us will be armed; and we have plenty of powder and ball. We have nothing to fear. What can they do against these rocks? What we have to fear is a hand-to-hand fight with an enemy greatly superior in numbers. We must try to prevent their landing. So shoot fast, and shoot straight. Each of us has eight or ten enemies to kill, and must kill them.”

Smith had precisely defined the situation, his companions acted upon his proposal without a word.

It was half past 6 in the morning. Soon the mist rose gradually; the ocean was covered with ripples, and the sky was soon clear. The Speedy appeared, anchored by two cables. The ominous black flag floated at the peak. Harvey was hesitating. But at about 8 o’clock there was a movement on board. A boat was let down into the sea. Seven men jumped into it, their guns in their hands.

Pencroff and Ayrton, lying hidden among the rocks, saw it coming down upon them.

The boat was not far from the islet when it stopped. The helmsman, standing erect, was trying to find the best place to land. In a moment a double flash was heard. The helmsman and one pirate fell over into the boat. Ayrton and Pencroff had done their work. Almost at once came a puff of smoke from the brig; but our friends remained unhurt.

With horrible imprecations the boat resumed its course. The helmsman was replaced by one of his comrades, and the crew bent to their oars.

Twenty minutes after the first shots, the boat was near the Mercy. But as it were passing within easy range of the river’s mouth, two reports were heard, and two of the crew fell back into the boat. Neb and Spilett had not missed their shot. The brig opened fire, which was indicated by the puff of smoke; but with no result.

The boat now contained only three men. The two remaining oarsmen pulled across to the brig.

So far the colonists could not complain. Four pirates had been grievously wounded, perhaps killed, while they were without a scratch.

Another boat was lowered into the sea, and eight more jumped into it.

Pencroff and Ayrton were in a perilous situation. They reached their canoe on the other side of the islet, crossed the channel just as the second boat load of pirates rounded the southern point, and hastened to hide themselves at the Chimneys. They had hardly rejoined Smith and Herbert, when the islet was surrounded and thoroughly searched by the pirates.

On the islet, therefore, there were twelve convicts. Six more had landed on the island itself, but Granite House was safe from them, for they could not get across the river, the bridges over which were raised.

“What do you think of the situation, Mr. Smith?” said Pencroff.

“I think,” said the engineer, “that unless these rascals are very stupid, the battle will soon take a new form.”

“They will never get across the channel,” said Pencroff.

Meanwhile, the pirates on the islet had collected on the brink of the channel. But a more serious danger was at hand. The Speedy had raised its anchor, and was steadily nearing the shore. How then could they prevent the pirates from landing?

The brig came nearer and nearer, and was evidently heading for the lower extremity of the islet.

“The villains are here!” cried Pencroff. As he spoke, Neb and Spilett rejoined their comrades. They could do nothing against the ship.

“We must take refuge in Granite House,” said Smith, “while we have time, and before the convicts can see us.”

“Let us start at once, then,” said the reporter.

There was not a moment to lose. Through the leaves they saw the Speedy, moving up the channel. Balls were crashing everywhere. Still they hoped that Granite House would escape notice, when suddenly a ball passed through the doorway and penetrated into the corridor.

“The devil! We are discovered!” cried Pencroff.

The situation of the colonists was now desperate. Nothing remained but to take refuge in the upper corridor of Granite House. Suddenly a hollow sound was heard, followed by dreadful shrieks. Smith and his comrades rushed to the window.

The brig had just split in half; and in less than ten seconds it went to the bottom with its wicked crew!