CHAPTER TWO.
DISCUSSIONS--PRESENTIMENTS--AYRTON'S PROPOSAL--IT IS ACCEPTED--AYRTONAND PENCROFT ON GRANT ISLET--CONVICTS FROM NORFOLK ISLAND--AYRTON'SHEROIC ATTEMPT--HIS RETURN--SIX AGAINST FIFTY.
There was no longer any doubt as to the pirates' intentions. They haddropped anchor at a short distance from the island, and it was evidentthat the next day by means of their boats they purposed to land on thebeach!
Cyrus Harding and his companions were ready to act, but, determinedthough they were, they must not forget to be prudent. Perhaps theirpresence might still be concealed in the event of the pirates contentingthemselves with landing on the shore without examining the interior ofthe island. It might be, indeed, that their only intention was toobtain fresh water from the Mercy, and it was not impossible that thebridge, thrown across a mile and a half from the mouth, and themanufactory at the Chimneys might escape their notice.
But why was that flag hoisted at the brig's peak? What was that shotfired for? Pure bravado doubtless, unless it was a sign of the act oftaking possession. Harding knew now that the vessel was well-armed.And what had the colonists of Lincoln Island to reply to the pirates'guns? A few muskets only.
"However," observed Cyrus Harding, "here we are in an impregnableposition. The enemy cannot discover the mouth of the outlet, now thatit is hidden under reeds and grass, and consequently it would beimpossible for them to penetrate into Granite House."
"But our plantations, our poultry-yard, our corral, all, everything!"exclaimed Pencroft, stamping his foot. "They may spoil everything,destroy everything in a few hours!"
"Everything, Pencroft," answered Harding, "and we have no means ofpreventing them."
"Are they numerous? that is the question," said the reporter. "If theyare not more than a dozen, we shall be able to stop them, but forty,fifty, more perhaps!"
"Captain Harding," then said Ayrton, advancing towards the engineer,"will you give me leave."
"For what, my friend?"
"To go to that vessel to find out the strength of her crew."
"But Ayrton--" answered the engineer, hesitating, "you will risk yourlife--"
"Why not, sir?"
"That is more than your duty."
"I have more than my duty to do," replied Ayrton.
"Will you go to the ship in the boat?" asked Gideon Spilett.
"No, sir, but I will swim. A boat would be seen where a man may glidebetween wind and water."
"Do you know that the brig is a mile and a quarter from the shore?" saidHerbert.
"I am a good swimmer, Mr Herbert."
"I tell you it is risking your life," said the engineer.
"That is no matter," answered Ayrton. "Captain Harding, I ask this as afavour. Perhaps it will be a means of raising me in my own eyes!"
"Go, Ayrton," replied the engineer, who felt sure that a refusal wouldhave deeply wounded the former convict, now become an honest man.
"I will accompany you," said Pencroft.
"You mistrust me!" said Ayrton quickly.
Then more humbly,--
"Alas!"
"No! no!" exclaimed Harding with animation, "no, Ayrton, Pencroft doesnot mistrust you. You interpret his words wrongly."
"Indeed," returned the sailor, "I only propose to accompany Ayrton asfar as the islet. It may be, although it is scarcely possible, that oneof these villains has landed, and in that case two men will not be toomany to hinder him from giving the alarm. I will wait for Ayrton on theislet, and he shall go alone to the vessel, since he has proposed to doso." These things agreed to, Ayrton made preparations for hisdeparture. His plan was bold, but it might succeed, thanks to thedarkness of the night. Once arrived at the vessel's side, Ayrton,holding onto the main-chains, might reconnoitre the number and perhapsoverhear the intentions of the pirates.
Ayrton and Pencroft, followed by their companions, descended to thebeach. Ayrton undressed and rubbed himself with grease, so as to sufferless from the temperature of the water, which was still cold. He might,indeed, be obliged to remain in it for several hours.
Pencroft and Neb, during this time, had gone to fetch the boat, moored afew hundred feet higher up, on the bank of the Mercy, and by the timethey returned, Ayrton was ready to start. A coat was thrown over hisshoulders, and the settlers all came round him to press his hand.
Ayrton then shoved off with Pencroft in the boat.
It was half-past ten in the evening when the two adventurers disappearedin the darkness. Their companions returned to wait at the Chimneys.
The channel was easily traversed, and the boat touched the oppositeshore of the islet. This was not done without precaution, for fear lestthe pirates might be roaming about there. But after a careful survey,it was evident that the islet was deserted. Ayrton then, followed byPencroft, crossed it with a rapid step, scaring the birds nestled in theholes of the rocks; then, without hesitating, he plunged into the sea,and swam noiselessly in the direction of the ship, in which a few lightshad recently appeared, showing her exact situation. As to Pencroft, hecrouched down in a cleft of the rock, and awaited the return of hiscompanion.
In the meanwhile, Ayrton, swimming with a vigorous stroke, glidedthrough the sheet of water without producing the slightest ripple. Hishead just emerged above it and his eyes were fixed on the dark hull ofthe brig, from which the lights were reflected in the water. He thoughtonly of the duty which he had promised to accomplish, and nothing of thedanger which he ran, not only on board the ship, but in the sea, oftenfrequented by sharks. The current bore him along and he rapidly recededfrom the shore.
Half an hour afterwards, Ayrton, without having been either seen orheard, arrived at the ship and caught hold of the main-chains. He tookbreath, then, hoisting himself up, he managed to reach the extremity ofthe cutwater. There were drying several pairs of sailors' trousers. Heput on a pair. Then settling himself firmly, he listened. They werenot sleeping on board the brig. On the contrary, they were talking,singing, laughing. And these were the sentences, accompanied withoaths, which principally struck Ayrton:--
"Our brig is a famous acquisition."
"She sails well, and merits her name of the _Speedy_."
"She would show all the navy of Norfolk a clean pair of heels."
"Hurrah for her captain!"
"Hurrah for Bob Harvey!"
What Ayrton felt when he overheard this fragment of conversation may beunderstood when it is known that in this Bob Harvey he recognised one ofhis old Australian companions, a daring sailor, who had continued hiscriminal career. Bob Harvey had seized, on the shores of NorfolkIsland, this brig, which was loaded with arms, ammunition, utensils, andtools of all sorts, destined for one of the Sandwich Islands. All hisgang had gone on board, and pirates after having been convicts, thesewretches, more ferocious than the Malays themselves, scoured thePacific, destroying vessels, and massacring their crews.
The convicts spoke loudly, they recounted their deeds, drinking deeplyat the same time, and this is what Ayrton gathered. The actual crew ofthe _Speedy_ was composed solely of English prisoners, escaped fromNorfolk Island.
Here it may be well to explain what this island was. In 29 degrees 2minutes south latitude, and 165 degrees 42 minutes east longitude, tothe east of Australia, is found a little island, six miles incircumference, overlooked by Mount Pitt, which rises to a height of 1100feet above the level of the sea. This is Norfolk Island, once the seatof an establishment in which were lodged the most intractable convictsfrom the English penitentiaries. They numbered 500, under an irondiscipline, threatened with terrible punishments, and were guarded by150 soldiers, and 150 employed under the orders of the governor. Itwould be difficult to imagine a collection of greater ruffians.Sometimes,--although very rarely,--notwithstanding the extremesurveillance of which they were the object, many managed to escape, andseizing vessels which they surprised, they infested the PolynesianArchipelagos. [Note. Norfolk Island has long since been abandoned as apenal se
ttlement.]
Thus had Bob Harvey and his companions done. Thus had Ayrton formerlywished to do. Bob Harvey had seized the brig _Speedy_, anchored insight of Norfolk Island; the crew had been massacred; and for a yearthis ship had scoured the Pacific, under the command of Harvey, now apirate, and well-known to Ayrton!
The convicts were, for the most part, assembled under the poop; but afew, stretched on the deck, were talking loudly.
The conversation still continued amidst shouts and libations. Ayrtonlearned that chance alone had brought the _Speedy_ in sight of LincolnIsland: Bob Harvey had never yet set foot on it; but, as Cyrus Hardinghad conjectured, finding this unknown land in his course, its positionbeing marked on no chart, he had formed the project of visiting it, and,if he found it suitable, of making it the brig's headquarters.
As to the black flag hoisted at the _Speedy's_ peak, and the gun whichhad been fired, in imitation of men-of-war when they lower theircolours, it was pure piratical bravado. It was in no way a signal, andno communication yet existed between the convicts and Lincoln Island.
The settlers' domain was now menaced with terrible danger. Evidentlythe island, with its water, its harbour, its resources of all kinds soincreased in value by the colonists, and the concealment afforded byGranite House, could not but be convenient for the convicts; in theirhands it would become an excellent place of refuge, and, being unknown,it would assure them, for a long time perhaps, impunity and security.Evidently, also, the lives of the settlers would not be respected, andBob Harvey and his accomplices' first care would be to massacre themwithout mercy. Harding and his companions had, therefore, not even thechoice of flying and hiding themselves in the island, since the convictsintended to reside there, and since, in the event of the _Speedy_departing on an expedition, it was probable that some of the crew wouldremain on shore, so as to settle themselves there. Therefore, it wouldbe necessary to fight, to destroy every one of these scoundrels,unworthy of pity, and against whom any means would be right. So thoughtAyrton, and he well knew that Cyrus Harding would be of his way ofthinking.
But was resistance and, in the last place, victory possible? That woulddepend on the equipment of the brig, and the number of men which shecarried.
This Ayrton resolved to learn at any cost, and as an hour after hisarrival the vociferations had begun to die away, and as a large numberof the convicts were already buried in a drunken sleep, Ayrton did nothesitate to venture onto the _Speedy's_ deck, which the extinguishedlanterns now left in total darkness. He hoisted himself onto thecutwater, and by the bowsprit arrived at the forecastle. Then, glidingamong the convicts stretched here and there, he made the round of theship, and found that the _Speedy_ carried four guns, which would throwshot of from eight to ten pounds in weight. He found also, on touchingthem, that these guns were breech-loaders. They were, therefore, ofmodern make, easily used, and of terrible effect.
As to the men lying on the deck, they were about ten in number, but itwas to be supposed that more were sleeping down below. Besides, bylistening to them, Ayrton had understood that there were fifty on board.That was a large number for the six settlers of Lincoln Island tocontend with! But now, thanks to Ayrton's devotion, Cyrus Harding wouldnot be surprised, he would know the strength of his adversaries, andwould make his arrangements accordingly.
There was nothing more for Ayrton to do but to return, and render to hiscompanions an account of the mission with which he had charged himself,and he prepared to regain the bows of the brig, so that he might lethimself down into the water.
But to this man, whose wish was, as he had said, to do more than hisduty, there came an heroic thought. This was to sacrifice his own life,but save the island and the colonists. Cyrus Harding evidently couldnot resist fifty ruffians, all well-armed, who, either by penetrating bymain force into Granite House, or by starving out the besieged, couldobtain from them what they wanted. And then he thought of hispreservers--those who had made him again a man, and an honest man, thoseto whom he owed all--murdered without pity, their works destroyed, theirisland turned into a pirates' den! He said to himself that he, Ayrton,was the principal cause of so many disasters, since his old companion,Bob Harvey, had but realised his own plans, and a feeling of horror tookpossession of him. Then he was seized with an irresistible desire toblow up the brig, and with her, all whom she had on board. He wouldperish in the explosion, but he would have done his duty.
Ayrton did not hesitate. To reach the powder-room, which is alwayssituated in the after-part of a vessel, was easy. There would be nowant of powder in a vessel which followed such a trade, and a sparkwould be enough to destroy it in an instant.
Ayrton stole carefully along the between-decks, strewn with numeroussleepers, overcome more by drunkenness than sleep. A lantern waslighted at the foot of the mainmast, round which was hung a gun-rack,furnished with weapons of all sorts.
Ayrton took a revolver from the rack, and assured himself that it wasloaded and primed. Nothing more was needed to accomplish the work ofdestruction. He then glided towards the stern, so as to arrive underthe brig's poop at the powder-magazine.
It was difficult to proceed along the dimly-lighted deck withoutstumbling over some half-sleeping convict, who retorted by oaths andkicks. Ayrton was, therefore, more than once obliged to halt. But atlast he arrived at the partition dividing the after-cabin, and found thedoor opening into the magazine itself.
Ayrton, compelled to force it open, set to work. It was a difficultoperation to perform without noise, for he had to break a padlock. Butunder his vigorous hand, the padlock broke, and the door was open.
At that moment a hand was laid on Ayrton's shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" asked a tall man, in a harsh voice, who,standing in the shadow, quickly threw the light of a lantern on Ayrton'sface.
Ayrton drew back. In the rapid flash of the lantern, he had recognisedhis former accomplice, Bob Harvey, who could not have known him, as hemust have thought Ayrton long since dead.
"What are you doing here?" again said Bob Harvey, seizing Ayrton by thewaistband.
But Ayrton, without replying, wrenched himself from his grasp andattempted to rush into the magazine. A shot fired into the midst of thepowder-casks, and all would be over!
"Help, lads!" shouted Bob Harvey.
At his shout two or three pirates awoke, jumped up, and, rushing onAyrton, endeavoured to throw him down. He soon extricated himself fromtheir grasp. He fired his revolver, and two of the convicts fell; but ablow from a knife which he could not ward off made a gash in hisshoulder.
Ayrton perceived that he could no longer hope to carry out his project.Bob Harvey had reclosed the door of the powder-magazine, and a movementon the deck indicated a general awakening of the pirates. Ayrton mustreserve himself to fight at the side of Cyrus Harding. There wasnothing for him but flight!
But was flight still possible? It was doubtful, yet Ayrton resolved todare everything in order to rejoin his companions.
Four barrels of the revolver were still undischarged. Two were fired--one, aimed at Bob Harvey, did not wound him, or at any rate onlyslightly; and Ayrton, profiting by the momentary retreat of hisadversaries, rushed towards the companion-ladder to gain the deck.Passing before the lantern, he smashed it with a blow from the butt ofhis revolver. A profound darkness ensued, which favoured his flight.Two or three pirates, awakened by the noise, were descending the ladderat the same moment. A fifth shot from Ayrton laid one low, and theothers drew back, not understanding what was going on. Ayrton was ondeck in two bounds, and three seconds later, having discharged his lastbarrel in the face of a pirate who was about to seize him by the throat,he leapt over the bulwarks into the sea.
Ayrton had not made six strokes before shots were splashing around himlike hail.
What were Pencroft's feelings, sheltered under a rock on the islet! whatwere those of Harding, the reporter, Herbert, and Neb, crouched in theChimneys, when they heard the reports on board
the brig! They rushedout onto the beach, and, their guns shouldered, they stood ready torepel any attack.
They had no doubt about it themselves! Ayrton, surprised by thepirates, had been murdered, and, perhaps, the wretches would profit bythe night to make a descent on the island!
Half an hour was passed in terrible anxiety. The firing had ceased, andyet neither Ayrton nor Pencroft had reappeared. Was the islet invaded?Ought they not to fly to the help of Ayrton and Pencroft? But how? Thetide being high at that time, rendered the channel impassable. The boatwas not there! We may imagine the horrible anxiety which tookpossession of Harding and his companions!
At last, towards half-past twelve, a boat, carrying two men, touched thebeach. It was Ayrton, slightly wounded in the shoulder, and Pencroft,safe and sound, whom their friends received with open arms.
All immediately took refuge in the Chimneys. There Ayrton recounted allthat had passed, even to his plan for blowing up the brig, which he hadattempted to put into execution.
All hands were extended to Ayrton, who did not conceal from them thattheir situation was serious. The pirates had been alarmed. They knewthat Lincoln Island was inhabited. They would land upon it in numbersand well-armed. They would respect nothing. Should the settlers fallinto their hands, they must expect no mercy!
"Well, we shall know how to die!" said the reporter.
"Let us go in and watch," answered the engineer.
"Have we any chance of escape, captain?" asked the sailor.
"Yes, Pencroft."
"Hum! six against fifty!"
"Yes! six! without counting--"
"Who?" asked Pencroft.
Cyrus did not reply, but pointed upwards.