Таинственный остров

           Thefiringhadceased,andyetneitherAyrtonnorPencrofthadreappeared.Wastheisletinvaded?OughttheynottoflytothehelpofAyrtonandPencroft?Buthow?Thetidebeinghighatthattime,renderedthechannelimpassable.Theboatwasnotthere!WemayimaginethehorribleanxietywhichtookpossessionofHardingandhiscompanions!

           Atlast,towardshalf-pasttwelve,aboat,carryingtwomen,touchedthebeach.ItwasAyrton,slightlywoundedintheshoulder,andPencroft,safeandsound,whomtheirfriendsreceivedwithopenarms.

           AllimmediatelytookrefugeintheChimneys.ThereAyrtonrecountedallthathadpassed,eventohisplanforblowingupthebrig,whichhehadattemptedtoputintoexecution.

           AllhandswereextendedtoAyrton,whodidnotconcealfromthemthattheirsituationwasserious.Thepirateshadbeenalarmed.TheyknewthatLincolnIslandwasinhabited.Theywouldlanduponitinnumbersandwellarmed.Theywouldrespectnothing.Shouldthesettlersfallintotheirhands,theymustexpectnomercy!

           "Well,weshallknowhowtodie!"saidthereporter.

           "Letusgoinandwatch,"answeredtheengineer.

           "Haveweanychanceofescape,captain?"askedthesailor.

           "Yes,Pencroft."

           "Hum!sixagainstfifty!"

           "Yes!six!withoutcounting—"

           "Who?"askedPencroft.

           Cyrusdidnotreply,butpointedupwards.