Таємничий острів

           Themanwhohadbeenatthetillerwasreplacedbyoneofhiscomrades,andtheoarswererapidlyplungedintothewater.However,insteadofreturningonboardasmighthavebeenexpected,theboatcoastedalongtheislet,soastorounditssouthernpoint.Thepiratespulledvigorouslyattheiroarsthattheymightgetoutofrangeofthebullets.

           Theyadvancedtowithinfivecables-lengthsofthatpartoftheshoreterminatedbyFlotsamPoint,andafterhavingroundeditinasemicircularline,stillprotectedbythebrig’sguns,theyproceededtowardsthemouthoftheMercy.

           Theirevidentintentionwastopenetrateintothechannel,andcutoffthecolonistspostedontheislet,insuchaway,thatwhatevertheirnumbermightbe,beingplacedbetweenthefirefromtheboatandthefirefromthebrig,theywouldfindthemselvesinaverydisadvantageousposition.

           Aquarterofanhourpassedwhiletheboatadvancedinthisdirection.Absolutesilence,perfectcalmreignedintheairandonthewater.

           PencroftandAyrton,althoughtheyknewtheyrantheriskofbeingcutoff,hadnotlefttheirpost,boththattheydidnotwishtoshowthemselvesasyettotheirassailants,andexposethemselvestothe"Speedy’s"guns,andthattheyreliedonNebandGideonSpilett,watchingatthemouthoftheriver,andonCyrusHardingandHerbert,inambushamongtherocksattheChimneys.

           Twentyminutesafterthefirstshotswerefired,theboatwaslessthantwocables-lengthsofftheMercy.