Таинственный остров

           Butthesixsurvivors,holdingtheirmusketsabovetheirheadstopreservethemfromcontactwiththewater,managedtolandontherightbankoftheriver.Then,findingtheywereexposedtothefireoftheambushthere,theyfledinthedirectionofFlotsamPoint,outofrangeoftheballs.

           Theactualsituationwasthis:ontheisletwereadozenconvicts,ofwhomsomewerenodoubtwounded,butwhohadstillaboatattheirdisposal;ontheislandweresix,butwhocouldnotbyanypossibilityreachGraniteHouse,astheycouldnotcrosstheriver,allthebridgesbeingraised.

           "Hallo,"exclaimedPencroftasherushedintotheChimneys,"hallo,captain!Whatdoyouthinkofit,now?"

           "Ithink,"answeredtheengineer,"thatthecombatwillnowtakeanewform,foritcannotbesupposedthattheconvictswillbesofoolishastoremaininapositionsounfavorableforthem!"

           "Theywon’tcrossthechannel,"saidthesailor."AyrtonandMr.Spilett’sriflesaretheretopreventthem.Youknowthattheycarrymorethanamile!"

           "Nodoubt,"repliedHerbert;"butwhatcantworiflesdoagainstthebrig’sguns?"

           "Well,thebrigisn’tinthechannelyet,Ifancy!"saidPencroft.

           "Butsupposeshedoescomethere?"saidHarding.

           "That’simpossible,forshewouldriskrunningagroundandbeinglost!"

           "Itispossible,"saidAyrton."Theconvictsmightprofitbythehightidetoenterthechannel,withtheriskofgroundingatlowtide,itistrue;butthen,underthefirefromherguns,ourpostswouldbenolongertenable."