Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules VerneЧитать онлайн книгу.

      CHAPTER XVI.

      Diamond Cut Diamond

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      The first thing Evans did was to take stock of the force and material under his command. Store-room and hall seemed to him to be well adapted for defence. One commanded the river, the other the lake. The loopholes allowed of the defenders firing from cover. With their eight guns the besieged could keep their assailants at a distance, and with the two little cannons, they could rain bullets on them if they came closer. Revolvers, axes, cutlasses, were there for all to use if it came to a hand-to-hand fight.

      Inside the defenders were strong; outside they were weak. There were but six biggish boys against seven active men, accustomed to the use of arms, and desperate enough not to shrink from murder.

      " You consider them desperate scoundrels ? " asked Gordon.

      " Yes," said Evans, " very desperate."

      " Except one, who is not quite as bad as the rest," said Kate. " That's Forbes, who saved my life."

      " Forbes ? " said Evans. "Well, whether he was led away by evil counsel, or by fear of his mates, he none the less took part in the massacre. It was he and Rock who came after me. He it was who shot at me as if I was a wild beast. Wasn't he the one who was so glad I was at the bottom of the river ? Eh, Kate ? I don't think he is any better than the others. He spared you because he knew you could be of use to them, and he won't be behind when the attack comes."

      Nevertheless, several days went by. Nothing suspicious had been reported from the guard on Auckland Hill, and this much to Evans's surprise. Knowing Walston's plans, and the importance to him of not wasting time, he wondered why nothing had been done between the 27th and 30th of November. Then the idea occurred to him that Walston was endeavouring to get into French Den by strategy, and' not by force. " While we are in the cave," said he to Briant, " Walston would have to force his way in through one of the doors, unless somebody opened them for him I He will try to get in by some dodge—" " How ? " asked Gordon.

      " This way, perhaps. You see there are only Kate and I who could denounce him as the chief of a gang of robbers seeking to capture your colony, and he fancies Kate died at the wreck. As for me, I am drowned in the river, you know. He does not know you know anything—not even that he is on the island. If he was to come as if he had been wrecked, he may think you would receive him; and once he got into the cave, he could let in his companions, when resistance would be impossible."

      " Well," said Briant, " if Walston, or any of them, came asking shelter, we would shoot—" " Or take our hats off ? " Which ? " asked Gordon. " That might be better," said the sailor. " Diamond cut diamond, eh ? Let us talk it over." Next morning passed without adventure. Evans, with Donagan and Baxter, went out for half a mile, as far as Trap Woods, keeping well under the trees, at the base of Auckland Hill. They saw nothing unusual, and Fan, who accompanied them, gave no alarm.

      But in the evening, just before sunset, Webb and Cross came in hurriedly from their post on the hill, and announced the approach of two men along the south side of the lake on the other side of Zealand River.

      Kate and Evans, not wishing to be observed, at once hurried into the store-room, and, looking through the loopholes soon caught sight of Rock and Forbes.

      " Evidently," said the sailor, " they are going to try treachery. They are coming as shipwrecked sailors—" " What shall we do ? " asked Briant.

      " Take them in ! " said Evans.

      " Welcome those scoundrels ? " said Briant. " I never can—"

      " I can," said Gordon.

      "Well, then, do so!" said Evans. "But don't let them have a suspicion of our presence. Kate and I will appear when it is time."

      Evans and Kate retired into the cupboard in the passage between the rooms.

      A few minutes afterwards Gordon, Briant, Donagan, and Baxter ran out on to the river-bank. The two men, now close to the other side pretended immense surprise when they saw them. And Gordon looked even more surprised.

      " Who are you ? " he asked.

      " We have been wrecked on the south of this island in the boat of the ship Severn."

      " Are you English ? "

      " No, Americans."

      " Where are your companions ? "

      " All lost. We alone escaped the wreck, and we are almost done up. Who are you, please ? "

      "The colonists of Charman Island."

      " Perhaps the colonists, then, will take pity on us, and help us, for we have got nothing—"

      " All who are wrecked have a right to be helped," said Gordon. " You are welcome."

      At a sign from him Moko entered the yawl, which was moored close by, and in a few strokes of the oar the two men were across the river.

      Doubtless Walston had no choice, but it must be confessed that Rock's face was not one to inspire confidence, even with boys. He did his best to look like an honest man, but what could he do with his narrow forehead, his head so big behind, and his remarkable lower jaw? Forbes—in whom, according to Kate, every feeling of humanity was not yet dead—was a much better-looking fellow, which was probably the reason that Walston had sent him.

      They played their parts well. When a more direct question than usual proved embarrassing, they pleaded that they were quite tired out, and begged that they might take a rest, and even pass the night at French Den. As they entered the cave Gordon watched them throw a searching look around, and noticed their surprise at the means of defence, particularly at the little cannon. It is probable that the boys would have been unable to keep up the little drama, had the men not asked to be allowed to lie down, and postpone the story of their adventures until the morning.

      " A bed of leaves will do for us," said Rock, " but as we don't wish to be in your way, if you have another room—"

      " Yes," said Gordon, " we have one we use as a kitchen, and you can stay there till to-morrow."

      Rock and his companion passed into the store-room, which they examined with a searching glance, and noted that the door opened on to the river.

      In a corner they laid themselves down. They were not alone, for Moko slept there, but they did not think much of him, as they had made up their minds to twist his neck if they found him sleeping with only one eye. At the hour agreed they could open the store-room door, and Walston, who was prowling about the neighbourhood, would soon be master of French Den.

      About nine o'clock, when Rock and Forbes were seemingly sound asleep, Moko entered and threw himself down on the bed, ready to give the alarm. Briant and the others remained in the hall; the door of the passage was shut, and Evans and Kate came to them out of their hiding-place. Things had gone exactly as the sailor had foreseen, and he had no doubt that Walston was close at hand, waiting the signal to break in.

      " We must be on our guard," said he.

      Two hours passed, and Moko was asking himself if Rock and Forbes had not postponed their scheme for another night, when his attention was attracted by a slight noise in the coiner of the cave.

      By the light of the lantern, hung from the roof, he saw Rock and Forbes leave their bed and creep towards the door.

      The door was buttressed by a heap of heavy stones, a regular barricade which it would not be easy to clear away.