AtHerbert’scry,Pencroft,lettinghisgunfall,rushedtowardshim.

           "Theyhavekilledhim!"hecried."Myboy!Theyhavekilledhim!"

           CyrusHardingandGideonSpilettrantoHerbert.

           Thereporterlistenedtoascertainifthepoorlad’sheartwasstillbeating.

           "Helives,"saidhe,"buthemustbecarried—"

           "ToGraniteHouse?thatisimpossible!"repliedtheengineer.

           "Intothecorral,then!"saidPencroft.

           "Inamoment,"saidHarding.

           Andheranroundtheleftcornerofthepalisade.Therehefoundaconvict,whoaimingathim,sentaballthroughhishat.Inafewseconds,beforehehadeventimetofirehissecondbarrel,hefell,strucktotheheartbyHarding’sdagger,moresureeventhanhisgun.

           Duringthistime,GideonSpilettandthesailorhoistedthemselvesoverthepalisade,leapedintotheenclosure,threwdownthepropswhichsupportedtheinnerdoor,ranintotheemptyhouse,andsoon,poorHerbertwaslyingonAyrton’sbed.Inafewmoments,Hardingwasbyhisside.

           OnseeingHerbertsenseless,thesailor’sgriefwasterrible.

           Hesobbed,hecried,hetriedtobeathisheadagainstthewall.

           Neithertheengineernorthereportercouldcalmhim.Theythemselveswerechokedwithemotion.Theycouldnotspeak.

           However,theyknewthatitdependedonthemtorescuefromdeaththepoorboywhowassufferingbeneaththeireyes.GideonSpiletthadnotpassedthroughthemanyincidentsbywhichhislifehadbeencheckeredwithoutacquiringsomeslightknowledgeofmedicine.