her we might row out to theother side of the reef, keeping at a safe distance, and then we shouldfind out what they are doing."
"No doubt, sir," rejoined Rolfe; "but would they let us do it? I ampretty sure there are one or two fellows lying under the bulwarks,watching us from the deck. They could pick off any one who tried that."
"I am afraid that is only too likely," said Captain Ranken; "but it isso important to us to know what they are up to, that I think we mustattempt it. Who will volunteer for the service?"
He was answered by half a dozen eager voices, declaring each man'sreadiness to make the adventure.
"Very good, gentlemen; I thank you heartily," said the skipper. "Themen I want must be good divers, if possible, but certainly goodswimmers. They must also, of course, understand the management of aboat."
"I can't swim, I am sorry to say," cried Walters.
"I can swim, but I am no diver," said Rolfe.
"And I can swim and dive, but I am a poor hand at managing a boat,"added Margetts. "But look here, captain, here's your man--GeorgeRivers. He swims like a fish, and dives like a cormorant, and canmanage a boat first-rate."
"He will do for one, no doubt," said the captain. "And I think, MynheerMoritz, you offered, did you not? You, I know, can both swim and dive,and, I believe, understand managing a boat?"
"Yes, sir," returned Moritz, "I believe, without vanity, I can say I do.I shall be pleased to undertake this in company with Mr Rivers."
"Very good," said the skipper. "That is settled, then. Now, gentlemen,this is what you have to do. You must get into the water here, out ofthe sight of the ship, and swim round, keeping under water as much aspossible. Then get under the lee of the boat, and bring her round,sheltering yourselves under the cover of her side. Of course our fearsmay be groundless. There may be no one lying in wait. But I fancy Ihave seen heads looking from time to time over the ship's sides, and itis best to take every precaution. Now be off as quick as possible, forthe daylight is dying out."
George and Moritz complied. Going to the farther point of the reef,they stripped, and, slipping silently into the water, began swimminground the reef. When they got to the point where their heads would bevisible from the ship, they dived, and swam under water, neither of themreappearing until their heads came to the surface close under the bowsof the boat.
"Capitally managed!" cried the captain. "If they get her out fromshore, all will be safe. I really hope our apprehensions wereunfounded."
But at this moment two or three guns were fired from the ship, andseveral bullets spattered in the water. Moritz, who had incautiouslyraised his head, had a narrow escape. George seized and dragged himdown, himself only just escaping a bullet which whistled over his head.The boat, however, was by this time in motion, and they were enabled todrag it along with them, without again exposing themselves until theywere out of shot. Then they climbed in and rowed to the place whencethey had started. Here the captain received them with manycommendations and thanks; and, while the two adventurers were resumingtheir clothes, went off in the boat with two of the men to the otherside of the wreck, taking care to keep at a safe distance. He returnedin half an hour with a very uncomfortable report.
"Have you found out what they are about, sir?" asked Margetts.
"I am sorry to say I have. They mean mischief, and, I fear, will beonly too likely to be able to work it. They are putting together araft, and are getting on fast with it."
"But may not that be only to enable them to make their escape to theshore?" suggested Walters.
"If that had been their intention, they would not have fired on Riversand Mr Moritz. There is no use in disguising facts. They mean toattack us."
"But how can they contrive, sir?" asked the second mate. "Neither windnor tide is favourable to them. A raft is a very difficult thing tomanage at all times, and they would have to approach this part of thereef under the fire of all our guns."
"You are right, Rolfe," replied the captain; "but unfortunately the raftis not the only work they are engaged on. Somehow it appears that thelaunch was not so much injured as I had supposed. Two or three smarthands have been employed on it, and it looked as though it had been madeall right again. What they mean to do, I expect, is to launch both raftand boat at nightfall, and the one will tow the other till our reef isreached. Then they will land in the dark, and then either take up aposition behind our barricade, from which they can fire upon us wheneverwe go in or out of our hut, or else make an assault upon us as soon asthe moon rises, and overpower us by superior numbers. The first wouldbe the surest plan for themselves, but their dread of Wyndham's returnmay induce them to adopt the other. They outnumber us, remember, atleast six to one."
"It is only too likely that you are right," said George; "but what doyou advise?"
"I think, in the first place, we must complete the barricade round thehut. At present we are open on two sides to a sudden rush, which wouldoverpower us by force of numbers. Behind, the rise of the rock is soprecipitous that they could only climb it with great difficulty, one byone. We must place our best marksmen up there, and the others behindour barricades down below. We must put a man, when the darkness comeson, at the very extremity of the reef, nearest to the wreck. He will beable to distinguish what they are doing sufficiently well to tell uswhen they are launching their raft. It cannot, I know, be completed formany hours yet. As soon as it does put off, we can burn a blue light,--I took care last night to bring some with me,--and that will enable usto fire on them, while approaching and landing, with effect. We may befortunate enough to kill their leaders, in which case the others willsubmit at once."
"If I catch sight of that Cargill," exclaimed Vander Heyden, "he willnot trouble us any more! Ha, Vrank?"
"No," responded Moritz; "he doesn't deserve much mercy, and I don'timagine he would show us much."
"None at all, I fear," assented the captain. "But I don't desire hisdeath on that account, but because he is leading these poor misguidedfellows into crime and ruin. But no more of him. If we mean to put upour barricades, we must go to work at once."
"All right, captain!" said Rolfe; "we will not delay a minute."
A quantity of barrels and boxes, with which the reef was still strewn,were brought up, and filled with stones, as well as some heaps ofwreck-wood, which had been thrown up above high-water mark. In twohours' time a barricade had been erected sufficiently strong to repelany sudden assault. Then attention was turned to the high ground behindthe hut. Large stones and pieces of wood were laid along the highestridge, behind which the riflemen might fire in safety. This partyconsisted of McCarthy, Rolfe, George Rivers, Margetts, Whittaker, andWalters, together with Vander Heyden and Moritz. The captain took thecommand of the party below, which consisted of the seven sailors. Herealso Miss Vander Heyden was placed, under the captain's specialprotection. When the hut was first erected, a space had beenpartitioned off to serve as Annchen's sleeping-place, and George, duringthe captain's absence in the boat, had employed his time in doublingthis partition, and filling up the space between the boards with stones,so that even if all the other defences were carried, she would stillhave a last place of shelter.
When the job was done, the whole party sat down to rest and take somerefreshment. The evening came on before they had finished their meal,and in a short time it was quite dark.
"If they mean to come," remarked the captain, "it will be pretty soonnow. The noise of hammering has ceased for the last half-hour; theymust have completed their job; and now it will be seen whether they aregoing to make for the shore, or attack us."
It was an anxious moment. The whole party sat in front of theirbarricade, on the stones or logs of which it was composed, listeningintently to catch any sound which might determine the momentous questionat issue. Presently the silence was broken by Coxwell, the sailor whomthe captain had stationed at the farthest point of the reef. He came upwith the information that the boat and raft were both afloat
, and by thelanterns they had lighted he could see the men getting on board.
"We must all take our places," said the captain. "I will go down to thewater's edge and listen. Mr Rivers, be ready to put a match to theblue lights as soon as I call to you."
All obeyed in silence. Annchen took leave of her brother and Moritz,and bade also a general farewell to the others; her eye, as George couldnot help fancying, lighting with special kindness on him. When they hadall taken up their stations, there was a silence of some minutes, andthen the voice of the captain was heard,--"Light up! I hear themcoming!" Rivers obeyed; and a lurid flame suddenly