Таємничий острів

           Andthenhethoughtofhispreservers—thosewhohadmadehimagainaman,andanhonestmm,thosetowhomheowedall—murderedwithoutpity,theirworksdestroyed,theirislandturnedintoapirates’den!Hesaidtohimselfthathe,Ayrton,wastheprincipalcauseofsomanydisasters,sincehisoldcompanion,BobHarvey,hadbutrealizedhisownplans,andafeelingofhorrortookpossessionofhim.Thenhewasseizedwithanirresistibledesiretoblowupthebrigandwithher,allwhomshehadonboard.Hewouldperishintheexplosion,buthewouldhavedonehisduty.

           Ayrtondidnothesitate.Toreachthepowder-room,whichisalwayssituatedintheafter-partofavessel,waseasy.Therewouldbenowantofpowderinavesselwhichfollowedsuchatrade,andasparkwouldbeenoughtodestroyitinaninstant.

           Ayrtonstolecarefullyalongthebetween-decks,strewnwithnumeroussleepers,overcomemorebydrunkennessthansleep.Alanternwaslightedatthefootofthemainmast,roundwhichwashungagun-rack,furnishedwithweaponsofallsorts.

           Ayrtontookarevolverfromtherack,andassuredhimselfthatitwasloadedandprimed.Nothingmorewasneededtoaccomplishtheworkofdestruction.Hethenglidedtowardsthestern,soastoarriveunderthebrig’spoopatthepowder-magazine.

           Itwasdifficulttoproceedalongthedimlylighteddeckwithoutstumblingoversomehalf-sleepingconvict,whoretortedbyoathsandkicks.Ayrtonwas,therefore,morethanonceobligedtohalt.