CHAPTER NINE.
NO NEWS OF NEB--A PROPOSAL FROM PENCROFT AND THE REPORTER, WHICH IS NOTACCEPTED--SEVERAL SORTIES BY GIDEON SPILETT--A RAG OF CLOTH--A MESSAGE--HASTY DEPARTURE--ARRIVAL ON THE PLATEAU OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS.
The convalescence of the young invalid was regularly progressing. Onething only was now to be desired, that his state would allow him to bebrought to Granite House. However well built and supplied the corralhouse was, it could not be so comfortable as the healthy granitedwelling. Besides, it did not offer the same security, and its tenants,notwithstanding their watchfulness, were here always in fear of someshot from the convicts. There, on the contrary, in the middle of thatimpregnable and inaccessible cliff, they would have nothing to fear, andany attack on their persons would certainly fail. They therefore waitedimpatiently for the moment when Herbert might be moved without dangerfrom his wound, and they were determined to make this move, although thecommunication through Jacamar Wood was very difficult.
They had no news from Neb, but were not uneasy on that account. Thecourageous negro, well intrenched in the depths of Granite House, wouldnot allow himself to be surprised. Top had not been sent again to him,as it appeared useless to expose the faithful dog to some shot whichmight deprive the settlers of their most useful auxiliary.
They waited, therefore, although they were anxious to be reunited atGranite House. It pained the engineer to see his forces divided, for itgave great advantage to the pirates. Since Ayrton's disappearance theywere only four against five, for Herbert could not yet be counted, andthis was not the least care of the brave boy, who well understood thetrouble of which he was the cause.
The question of knowing how, in their condition, they were to actagainst the pirates, was thoroughly discussed on the 29th of November byCyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, and Pencroft, at a moment when Herbertwas asleep and could not hear them.
"My friends," said the reporter, after they had talked of Neb and of theimpossibility of communicating with him, "I think, like you, that toventure on the road to the corral would be to risk receiving a gun-shotwithout being able to return it. But do you not think that the bestthing to be done now is to openly give chase to these wretches?"
"That is just what I was thinking," answered Pencroft. "I believe we'renot fellows to be afraid of a bullet, and as for me, if Captain Hardingapproves, I'm ready to dash into the forest! Why, hang it, one man isequal to another!"
"But is he equal to five?" asked the engineer.
"I will join Pencroft," said the reporter, "and both of us, well-armedand accompanied by Top--"
"My dear Spilett, and you, Pencroft," answered Harding, "let us reasoncoolly. If the convicts were hid in one spot of the island, if we knewthat spot, and had only to dislodge them, I would undertake a directattack; but is there not occasion to fear, on the contrary, that theyare sure to fire the first shot."
"Well, captain," cried Pencroft, "a bullet does not always reach itsmark."
"That which struck Herbert did not miss, Pencroft," replied theengineer. "Besides, observe that if both of you left the corral Ishould remain here alone to defend it. Do you imagine that the convictswill not see you leave it, that they will not allow you to enter theforest, and that they will not attack it during your absence, knowingthat there is no one here but a wounded boy and a man?"
"You are right, captain," replied Pencroft, his chest swelling withsullen anger. "You are right; they will do all they can to retake thecorral, which they know to be well stored; and alone you could not holdit against them."
"Oh, if we were only at Granite House!"
"If we were at Granite House," answered the engineer, "the case would bevery different. There I should not be afraid to leave Herbert with one,whilst the other three went to search the forests of the island. But weare at the corral, and it is best to stay here until we can leave ittogether."
Cyrus Harding's reasoning was unanswerable, and his companionsunderstood it well.
"If only Ayrton was still one of us!" said Gideon Spilett. "Poorfellow! his return to social life will have been but of short duration."
"If he is dead," added Pencroft, in a peculiar tone.
"Do you hope, then, Pencroft, that the villains have spared him?" askedGideon Spilett.
"Yes, if they had any interest in doing so."
"What! you suppose that Ayrton, finding his old companions, forgettingall that he owes us--"
"Who knows?" answered the sailor, who did not hazard this shamefulsupposition without hesitating.
"Pencroft," said Harding, taking the sailor's arm, "that is a wickedidea of yours, and you will distress me much if you persist in speakingthus. I will answer for Ayrton's fidelity."
"And I also," added the reporter quickly.
"Yes, yes, captain, I was wrong," replied Pencroft; "it was a wickedidea indeed that I had, and nothing justifies it. But what can I do?I'm not in my senses. This imprisonment in the corral wearies mehorribly, and I have never felt so excited as I do now."
"Be patient, Pencroft," replied the engineer. "How long will it be, mydear Spilett, before you think Herbert may be carried to Granite House?"
"That is difficult to say, Cyrus," answered the reporter, "for anyimprudence might involve terrible consequences. But his convalescenceis progressing, and if he continues to gain strength, in eight days fromnow--well, we shall see."
Eight days! That would put off the return to Granite House until thefirst days of December. At this time two months of spring had alreadypassed. The weather was fine, and the heat began to be great. Theforests of the island were in full leaf, and the time was approachingwhen the usual crops ought to be gathered. The return to the plateau ofProspect Heights would, therefore, be followed by extensive agriculturallabours, interrupted only by the projected expedition through theisland.
It can, therefore, be well understood how injurious this seclusion inthe corral must be to the colonists.
But if they were compelled to bow before necessity, they did not do sowithout impatience.
Once or twice the reporter ventured out into the road and made the tourof the palisade. Top accompanied him, and Gideon Spilett, his guncocked, was ready for any emergency.
He met with no misadventure and found no suspicious traces. His dogwould have warned him of any danger, and, as Top did not bark, it mightbe concluded that there was nothing to fear at that moment at least, andthat the convicts were occupied in another part of the island.
However, on his second sortie, on the 27th of November, Gideon Spilett,who had ventured a quarter of a mile into the wood, towards the south ofthe mountains, remarked that Top scented something. The dog had nolonger his unconcerned manner; he went backwards and forwards, ferretingamongst the grass and bushes as if his smell had revealed somesuspicious object to him.
Gideon Spilett followed Top, encouraged him, excited him by his voice,whilst keeping a sharp look-out, his gun ready to fire, and shelteringhimself behind the trees. It was not probable that Top scented thepresence of man, for in that case, he would have announced it byhalf-uttered, sullen, angry barks. Now, as he did not growl, it wasbecause danger was neither near nor approaching.
Nearly five minutes passed thus, Top rummaging, the reporter followinghim prudently, when, all at once, the dog rushed towards a thick bush,and drew out a rag.
It was a piece of cloth, stained and torn, which Spilett immediatelybrought back to the corral. There it was examined by the colonists, whofound that it was a fragment of Ayrton's waistcoat, a piece of thatfelt, manufactured solely by the Granite House factory.
"You see, Pencroft," observed Harding, "there has been resistance on thepart of the unfortunate Ayrton. The convicts have dragged him away inspite of himself! Do you still doubt his honesty?"
"No, captain," answered the sailor, "and I repented of my suspicion along time ago! But it seems to me that something may be learned fromthe incident."
"What is that?" asked the reporter.
&n
bsp; "It is that Ayrton was not killed at the corral! That they dragged himaway living, since he has resisted. Therefore, perhaps, he is stillliving!"
"Perhaps, indeed," replied the engineer, who remained thoughtful.
This was a hope, to which Ayrton's companions could still hold. Indeed,they had before believed that, surprised in the corral, Ayrton hadfallen by a bullet, as Herbert had fallen. But if the convicts had notkilled him at first, if they had brought him living to another part ofthe island, might it not be admitted that he was still their prisoner?Perhaps, even, one of them had found in Ayrton his old Australiancompanion Ben Joyce, the chief of the escaped convicts. And who knowsbut that they had conceived the impossible hope of bringing back Ayrtonto themselves? He would have been very useful to them, if they had beenable to make him turn traitor!
This incident was, therefore, favourably interpreted at the corral, andit no longer appeared impossible that they should find Ayrton again. Onhis side, if he was only a prisoner, Ayrton would no doubt do all hecould to escape from the hands of the villains, and this would be apowerful aid to the settlers!
"At any rate," observed Gideon Spilett, "if happily Ayrton did manage toescape, he would go directly to Granite House, for he could not know ofthe attempt of assassination of which Herbert has been a victim, andconsequently would never think of our being imprisoned in the corral!"
"Oh! I wish that he was there, at Granite House!" cried Pencroft, "andthat we were there, too! For, although the rascals can do nothing toour house, they may plunder the plateau, our plantations, ourpoultry-yard!"
Pencroft had become a thorough farmer, heartily attached to his crops.But it must be said that Herbert was more anxious than any to return toGranite House, for he knew how much the presence of the settlers wasneeded there. And it was he who was keeping them at the corral!Therefore, one idea occupied his mind--to leave the corral, and when!He believed he could bear removal to Granite House. He was sure hisstrength would return more quickly in his room, with the air and sightof the sea!
Several times he pressed Gideon Spilett, but the latter, fearing, withgood reason, that Herbert's wounds, half healed, might reopen on theway, did not give the order to start.
However, something occurred which compelled Cyrus Harding and his twofriends to yield to the lad's wish, and God alone knew that thisdetermination might cause them grief and remorse.
It was the 29th of November, seven o'clock in the evening. The threesettlers were talking in Herbert's room, when they heard Top utter quickbarks.
Harding, Pencroft, and Spilett seized their guns and ran out of thehouse. Top, at the foot of the palisade, was jumping, barking, but itwas with pleasure, not anger.
"Some one is coming."
"Yes."
"It is not an enemy!"
"Neb, perhaps?"
"Or Ayrton?"
These words had hardly been exchanged between the engineer and his twocompanions when a body leapt over the palisade and fell on the groundinside the corral.
It was Tup, Master Jup in person, to whom Top immediately gave a mostcordial reception.
"Jup!" exclaimed Pencroft.
"Neb has sent him to us," said the reporter.
"Then," replied the engineer, "he must have some note on him."
Pencroft rushed up to the orang. Certainly if Neb had any importantmatter to communicate to his master he could not employ a more sure ormore rapid messenger, who could pass where neither the colonists could,nor even Top himself.
Cyrus Harding was not mistaken. At Jup's neck hung a small bag, and inthis bag was found a little note traced by Neb's hand.
The despair of Harding and his companions may be imagined when they readthese words:--
"Friday, six o'clock in the morning.
"Plateau invaded by convicts.
"Neb."
They gazed at each other without uttering a word, then they re-enteredthe house. What were they to do? The convicts on Prospect Heights!that was disaster, devastation, ruin.
Herbert, on seeing the engineer, the reporter, and Pencroft re-enter,guessed that their situation was aggravated, and when he saw Jup, he nolonger doubted that some misfortune menaced Granite House.
"Captain Harding," said he, "I must go; I can bear the journey. I mustgo."
Gideon Spilett approached Herbert; then, having looked at him--
"Let us go, then!" said he.
The question was quickly decided whether Herbert should be carried on alitter or in the cart which had brought Ayrton to the corral. Themotion of the litter would have been more easy for the wounded lad, butit would have necessitated two bearers, that is to say, there would havebeen two guns less for defence if an attack was made on the road. Wouldthey not, on the contrary, by employing the cart leave every arm free?Was it impossible to place the mattress on which Herbert was lying init, and to advance with so much care than any jolt should be avoided?It could be done.
The cart was brought. Pencroft harnessed the onaga. Cyrus Harding andthe reporter raised Herbert's mattress and placed it on the bottom ofthe cart. The weather was fine. The sun's bright rays glanced throughthe trees.
"Are the guns ready?" asked Cyrus Harding.
They were. The engineer and Pencroft, each armed with adouble-barrelled gun, and Gideon Spilett carrying his rifle, had nothingto do but start.
"Are you comfortable, Herbert?" asked the engineer.
"Ah, captain," replied the lad, "don't be uneasy, I shall not die on theroad!"
Whilst speaking thus, it could be seen that the poor boy had called upall his energy, and by the energy of a powerful will had collected hisfailing strength.
The engineer felt his heart sink painfully. He still hesitated to givethe signal for departure; but that would have driven Herbert todespair--killed him perhaps.
"Forward!" said Harding.
The gate of the corral was opened. Jup and Top, who knew when to besilent, ran in advance. The cart came out, the gate was reclosed, andthe onaga, led by Pencroft, advanced at a slow pace.
Certainly, it would have been safer to have taken a different road thanthat which led straight from the corral to Granite House, but the cartwould have met with great difficulties in moving under the trees. Itwas necessary, therefore, to follow this way, although it was well-knownto the convicts.
Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett walked one on each side of the cart,ready to answer to any attack. However, it was not probable that theconvicts would have yet left the plateau of Prospect Heights.
Neb's note had evidently been written and sent as soon as the convictshad shown themselves there. Now, this note was dated six o'clock in themorning, and the active orang, accustomed to come frequently to thecorral, had taken scarcely three quarters of an hour to cross the fivemiles which separated it from Granite House. They would, therefore, besafe at that time, and if there was any occasion for firing, it wouldprobably not be until they were in the neighbourhood of Granite House.However, the colonists kept a strict watch. Top and Jup, the latterarmed with his club, sometimes in front, sometimes beating the wood atthe sides of the road, signalised no danger.
The cart advanced slowly under Pencroft's guidance. It had left thecorral at half-past seven. An hour after four out of the five miles hadbeen cleared, without any incident having occurred. The road was asdeserted as all that part of the Jacamar Wood which lay between theMercy and the lake. There was no occasion for any warning. The woodappeared as deserted as on the day when the colonists first landed onthe island.
They approached the plateau. Another mile and they would see the bridgeover Creek Glycerine. Cyrus Harding expected to find it in its place;supposing that the convicts; would have crossed it, and that, afterhaving passed one of the streams which enclosed the plateau, they wouldhave taken the precaution to lower it again, so as to keep open aretreat.
At length an opening in the trees allowed the sea-horizon to be seen.But the cart continued its progress, for not one of its defen
dersthought of abandoning it.
At that moment Pencroft stopped the onaga, and in a hoarse voice--
"Oh! the villains!" he exclaimed.
And he pointed to a thick smoke rising from the mill, the sheds, and thebuildings at the poultry-yard.
A man was moving about in the midst of the smoke. It was Neb.
His companions uttered a shout. He heard, and ran to meet them.
The convicts had left the plateau nearly half-an-hour before, havingdevastated it!
"And Mr Herbert?" asked Neb.
Gideon Spilett returned to the cart.
Herbert had lost consciousness!