Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/163

Rh 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.

The two men began to lift away the stones, which they laid one by one against the wall. In a few minutes the door was dear, and all they had to do was to take down the bar.

But as soon as Rock lifted the bar and opened the door, a hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned and recognized Evans.

"Evans!" he gasped. "Evans here!" "Come along boys!" shouted Evans.

Instantly Briant and his companions rushed in. Forbes, seized by the four strongest, was thrown down and secured.

Rock, with a rapid movement, shook himself clear of Evans, wounding him slightly with his knife, and fled through the open door. He had not gone ten yards before there was a shot. It was Evans who had fired. To all appearance the fugitive was unhurt, as no cry was heard.

"Missed him!" said the sailor. "But there's the other. We can settle one of them."

And cutlass in hand he stepped up to Forbes.

"Mercy! Mercy!" said the wretch, whom the boys were holding down on the ground.

"Yes! Mercy, Evans! said Kate, throwing herself in front of him. "Spare him, for he spared me."

"Be it so!" said Evans. "I consent, Kate—at least for the present."

And Forbes was bound and placed in one of the cavities in the passage.

Then the door of the store-room was shut and barricaded, and the boys remained on the alert till daybreak.