Cyrus Harding rose. His companions stared at each other, scarcely believing their ears.
"What does that mean?" cried Neb. "Was it the devil who rang it?"
No one answered.
"The weather is stormy," observed Herbert. "Might not its influence of electricity———"
Herbert did not finish. The engineer, towards whom all eyes turned, shook his head negatively.
"We must wait," said Gideon Spilett. "If it is a signal, whoever it may be who made it, he will renew it."
"But who do you think it is?" cried Neb.
"Who?" answered Pencroft, "but he———"
The sailor was cut short by a new tinkle of the bell.
Harding went to the apparatus, and sent this question to the corral: "What do you want?"
A few moments later the needle, moving on the alphabetic dial, gave this reply to the tenants of Granite House, "Come to the corral immediately."
"At last!" exclaimed Harding.
Yes! At last! The mystery was about to be unveiled. The colonists' fatigue had disappeared before the tremendous interest which was about to urge them to the corral, and all wish for rest had ceased. Without having uttered a word, in a few moments they had left Granite House, and were standing on the beach. Jup and Top alone were left behind. They could do without them.
The night was black. The new moon had disappeared at the same time as the sun. Great stormy clouds formed a lowering and heavy vault, preventing any star rays. A few lightning flashes, reflections from a distant storm, illuminated the horizon. It was possible that a few hours later the thunder would roll over the island itself. The night was very threatening.
But however deep the darkness was, it would not prevent them from finding the familiar road to the corral. They ascended the left bank of the Mercy, reached the plateau, passed the bridge over Creek Glycerine, and advanced through the forest.
They walked at a good pace, a prey to the liveliest emotions. There was no doubt but that they were now going to learn the long-searched-for answer to the enigma,
