heads to hold them. The engineer, the reporter, Herbert, and Pencroft, proceeded to the door, in order to ascertain if it was barricaded inside. It was open!
"What do you say now?" asked the engineer, turning to the sailor and Spilett. Both were stupefied.
"I can swear," said Pencroft, "this gate was shut before!"
The colonists hesitated. Had the convicts been in the corral when Pencroft and the reporter made their reconnaissance? They must have been, as the gate then closed could only have been opened by them. Were they still there, or had one of their number just gone out. All these questions rushed into the minds of the colonists, but how could they be answered?
At that moment, Herbert, who had advanced a few steps into the enclosure, drew back hurriedly, and seized Harding's hand.
"What's the matter?" asked the engineer.
"A light!"
"In the house?"
"Yes!" All five advanced and indeed, through the window fronting them, they saw glimmering a feeble light. Cyrus Harding made up his mind rapidly. "It is our only chance," said he to his companions, "of finding the convicts collected in this house, suspecting nothing! They are in our power! Forward!" The colonists crossed through the enclosure, holding their guns ready in their hands. The cart had been left outside under the charge of Jup and Top, who had been prudently tied to it.
Harding, Pencroft, and Spilett on one side, Herbert and Neb on the other, going along by the palisade, surveyed the absolutely dark and deserted corral. In a few moments they were near the closed door of the house.
Harding signed to his companions not to stir, and approaching the window, then feebly lighted by the inner light, he gazed into the apartment. On the table burned a lantern. Near the table was the bed formerly used by Ayrton. On the bed lay the body of a man.
Suddenly Cyrus Harding drew back, and in a hoarse voice, "Ayrton!" he exclaimed.
Immediately the door was forced rather than opened, and the colonists rushed into the room.
Aryton appeared to be asleep. His countenance showed
