CHAPTER 3

The mist rises—The engineer’s preparations—Three posts—Ayrton and Pencroft—The first boat—Two other boats—On the islet—Six convicts land—The brig weighs anchor—The “Speedy’s” guns—A desperate situation—Unexpected catastrophe. The night passed without incident. The colonists were on the qui vive, and did not leave their post at the Chimneys. The pirates, on their side, did not appear to have made any attempt to land. Since the last shots fired at Ayrton not a report, not even a sound, had betrayed the…