Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/171

Rh 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 lis prison? Walston thought so.

"Here Forbes! Here!" he shouted.

Evans stopped, and was going to fire, when he saw Forbes dash on to Walston, who, taken by surprise, had to drop Jack and defend himself, and instantly thrust his cutlass into his antagonist.

Forbes fell at his feet. Walston snatched at Jack, who drew his revolver, and shot him point blank in the throat. Brandt reached the boat, and Walston had but just strength enough to follow; and Cook pushed the boat off, when there was a loud report, and a volley of shot rattled into the boat, and into the water all round.

It was the cannon, which Moko had fired through the embrasure.

With the exception of the two scoundrels who had disappeared in Trap Woods, Charman Island was delivered from the mutineers.