Howhadithappened?whohadkilledtheconvicts?WasitAyrton?No,foramomentbeforehewasdreadingtheirreturn.

           ButAyrtonwasnowinaprofoundstupor,fromwhichitwasnolongerpossibletorousehim.Afterutteringthosefewwordshehadagainbecomeunconscious,andhadfallenbackmotionlessonthebed.

           Thecolonists,apreytoathousandconfusedthoughts,undertheinfluenceofviolentexcitement,waitedallnight,withoutleavingAyrton’shouse,orreturningtothespotwherelaythebodiesoftheconvicts.ItwasveryprobablethatAyrtonwouldnotbeabletothrowanylightonthecircumstancesunderwhichthebodieshadbeenfound,sincehehimselfwasnotawarethathewasinthecorral.Butatanyratehewouldbeinapositiontogiveanaccountofwhathadtakenplacebeforethisterribleexecution.ThenextdayAyrtonawokefromhistorpor,andhiscompanionscordiallymanifestedallthejoytheyfelt,onseeinghimagain,almostsafeandsound,afterahundredandfourdaysseparation.

           Ayrtontheninafewwordsrecountedwhathadhappened,or,atleast,asmuchasheknew.

           Thedayafterhisarrivalatthecorral,onthe10thoflastNovember,atnightfall,hewassurprisedbytheconvicts,whohadscaledthepalisade.Theyboundandgaggedhim;thenhewasledtoadarkcavern,atthefootofMountFranklin,wheretheconvictshadtakenrefuge.

           Hisdeathhadbeendecidedupon,andthenextdaytheconvictswereabouttokillhim,whenoneofthemrecognizedhimandcalledhimbythenamewhichheboreinAustralia.