Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules Verne
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apparently struck a trail.
''Wait!" said Briant.
" Yes," said Gordon. " It is a man's trail. Look at the dog's behaviour."
" Slip along under the bushes," said Evans; " and you, Donagan, who are such a good shot, if you get one of the beggars within range, don't miss him."
A few seconds afterwards they had reached the first group of trees. There, just on the skirt of the forest, were the traces of a recent camp—twigs half burnt, ashes still warm.
" Here's where Walston passed last night," said Gordon.
" And perhaps he was here a short time ago. I think we had better get back," said Evans.
He had hardly finished when there was the report of a gun to the right of him. A bullet pinged past Briant's ear and lodged in a tree. Almost immediately there was another report, followed by a cry of agony not fifty yards away, and something fell heavily among the bushes.
Donagan had fired as soon as he saw the smoke from the first gun.
The dog rushed to the front, and Donagan in his excitement dashed after him.
" Forward ! " shouted Evans. " We mustn't leave him to fight them single-handed ! "
A moment afterwards they had rejoined Donagan and stood round a corpse in the grass.
" That's Pike !" said Evans. " The scoundrel is stone dead. He's one to you Donagan."
" The others cannot be far off !" said Cross.
" No, my boy, but keep under cover ! Down with you! Down! "
There was a third bang, this time from the left. Service, who had not ducked quickly enough, had his forehead grazed by the bullet.
" You are hit ! " said Gordon, rushing towards him.
" It's nothing! It's nothing! " said Service. " It is only a scratch! "
It was necessary for the boys to keep together. Pike lay dead between them and Walston and the four men, who were probably posted behind the trees, and Evans and the others, crouching in the bushes, formed a compact group ready for an attack from any side.
Suddenly Garnett exclaimed,—
" Where is Briant ? "
" I don't see him," said Wilcox.
Briant had disappeared. Fan began to bark loudly and it seemed as though the boy was struggling with one of the pirates.
" Briant ! Briant! " shouted Donagan.
And away the boys all ran after the dog. Evans could not keep them back. They ran from tree to tree.
" Look out, Mr. Evans!" shouted Cross, throwing himself flat on the ground.
Instinctively the sailor stooped, as a bullet pinged past a few inches above him.
Rising instantly, he saw one of Walston's men running off. It was Rock, whom he had missed the night before.
" There's one for you, Rock ! " he shouted. Quickly he aimed and fired, and Rock disappeared as suddenly as if the earth had opened under his feet.
" Missed again, I suppose! " said Evans. All this took place in a few seconds. Immediately afterwards Donagan's voice was heard. " Hold on, Briant! Hold on ! " he shouted. Evans and the others dashed towards him, and found Briant struggling with Cope, who had thrown him down, and was going to run him through with his cutlass when Donagan jumped to the rescue just in time to turn the thrust into his own body and fall without uttering a sound.
Cope, seeing Evans, Garnett, and Webb attempting to cut off his retreat, fled away to the north, receiving a straggling volley as he did so. He disappeared, and Fan returned, without having reached him.
Briant rose from the ground, and lifted Donagan's head, and tried to revive him. Evans and the others came round, after quickly loading their guns.
Donagan had been stabbed full in the chest, and seemingly, mortally. His eyes were shut, his face was as white as wax, and he made no movement, not even when Briant called to him.
Evans stooped, opened the boy's waistcoat, and tore open the shirt, which was wet with blood. There was a thin bleeding gash near the fourth rib, on the left side. Had the cutlass touched the heart ? No, for Donagan still breathed. But it was to be feared that the lung had been pierced, for the breathing was extremely feeble.
" We must take him back to the cave ! " said Gordon. " That's the only place where we can look after him." " And save him, " said Briant. " Oh, my poor friend ! It was for me that you risked your life! "
There seemed to be an end to the battle, and Evans gave orders for Donagan to be taken at once to French Den. Apparently Walston had seen things going badly with him, and had retreated into the woods. But, strange to say—and this made Evans anxious—neither Walston, nor Brandt, nor Cook had been seen, and these were the most formidable of the gang.
Donagan's state required that he should be carried without being jolted, and Service and Wilcox made a litter of boughs, on which they laid him, still unconscious. Then four of his companions gently bore it, while the others walked on either side with guns loaded, and revolvers in hand.
They made straight for Auckland Hill. Better that than following the path along the lake. Nothing happened to interfere with them. Sometimes Donagan would give such a painful sigh that Gordon would signal a halt, in order to listen to the respiration, and a moment afterwards they would resume their progress.
Three-quarters of an hour had gone, and they were close to French Den, although the door was hidden by a shoulder of the cliff.
Suddenly there was a shout from Zealand River, and Fan sprang off towards it.
French Den was being attacked by Walston and his two companions. While Rock, Cope, and Pike lay in ambush in Trap Woods, Walston, Brandt, and Cook had climbed Auckland Hill, up the dry bed of the torrent that fed Dike Creek. Rapidly running along the ridge, they had descended the gorge opening on to the river near the store-room, and then, with a rush, had forced the door, which had not been barricaded.
Would Evans come up soon enough ?
His plan was formed instantly. Leaving Cross, Webb, and Garnett to guard Donagan, who could not be left alone, he, with Gordon, Briant, Service, and Wilcox took the shortest cut to the cave.
In a few strides they could see the terrace, where a sight met their eyes that almost drove them to despair. Walston was coming out of the door, dragging one of the boys towards the stream.
It was Jack. And in vain Kate strove to tear him from Walston.
A moment afterwards Brandt appeared, clutching young Costar, and bearing him off in the same direction.
Baxter threw himself upon Brandt, who, with a blow, knocked him to the ground.
The other boys were not to be seen. Had they been already dealt with in the cave ?
Walston and Brandt ran quickly towards the river. And there was Cook waiting for them with the yawl, that he had dragged out of the store-room.
Once on the left bank, they would be out of reach. Before their retreat could be cut off they would have got back to Bear Rock with Jack and Costar as hostages in their hands.
Evans, Briant, Gordon, Cross, and Wilcox raced up, hoping to reach the bank before Walston's men crossed the river. To fire at such a distance was to risk hitting the prisoners.
But Fan was quicker than the boys. Bounding on in front, she sprang full at Brandt's throat, and gripped it like a vice. To free himself from the dog Brandt had to drop the boy, while Walston got Jack almost to the water's edge.
Suddenly a man rushed from the hall.
It was Forbes.
Would he join his old companions now he had forced the door of his prison ? Walston thought so.
" Here Forbes ! Here ! " he shouted.
Evans