"Are the guns ready?" asked Cyrus Harding.
They were. The engineer and Pencroft, each armed with a double-barreled gun, and Gideon Spilett carrying his rifle, had nothing to do but start.
"Are you comfortable Herbert?" asked the engineer.
"Ah, captain," replied the lad, "don't be uneasy, I shall not die on the road!" Whilst speaking thus, it could be seen that the poor boy had called up all his energy, and by a powerful will had collected his failing strength.
The engineer felt his heart sink painfully. He still hesitated; but to stay now would have driven Herbert to despair—killed him perhaps. "Forward!" said Harding.
The gate of the corral was opened. Jup and Top, who knew when to be silent, ran in advance. The cart came out, the gate was reclosed, and the onager, led by Pencroft, advanced at a slow pace. Certainly, it would have been safer to have taken a different road than that which led straight from the corral to Granite House, but the cart would have met with great difficulties in moving under the trees. It was necessary, therefore, to follow this way, although it was well known to the convicts.
Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett walked one on each side of the cart, ready to answer to any attack. However, it was not probable that the convicts would have yet left the plateau of Prospect Heights. Neb's note had evidently been sent as soon as the convicts had shown themselves. Now, this note was dated six o'clock in the morning, and the active orang accustomed to come frequently to the corral, had been scarcely half an hour on the road. They would, therefore, be safe for a time, and if there was any occasion for firing, it would probably not be until they were in the neighborhood of Granite House. However, they kept strict watch. Top and Jup, the latter armed with his club, sometimes in front, sometimes beating the wood at the sides of the road, signalized no danger.
The cart advanced slowly under Pencroft's guidance. It had left the corral at half-past seven. An hour after, four out of the five miles had been cleared, without any incident having occurred. There was no occasion for any warning. The wood appeared as deserted as on the day when the colonists first landed on the island.
The approached the plateau. Another mile and they
