CHAPTER 13

Ayrton’s story—Plans of his former accomplices—Their installation in the corral—The avenging justice of Lincoln Island—The “Bonadventure”—Researches around Mount Franklin— The upper valleys—A subterranean volcano—Pencroft’s opinion— At the bottom of the crater—Return. How had it happened? who had killed the convicts? Was it Ayrton? No, for a moment before he was dreading their return. But Ayrton was now in a profound stupor, from which it was no longer possible to rouse him. After uttering those…