“No, uncle. In the first place, most of these are new arrivals, and, in spite of what their comrades have told them, won’t believe we are—or rather were—so strong. And in the second place, they will think we have retreated up to the second palisade, so even if they stop there, we will have time to get to sea.”
“What about this, Kyrion?” said Alexandros, pointing to the battery, which stood near; “will we not wait till the enemy are under the rocks, and then bring them down to crush all?”
“By no means, Alexandros; for by so doing we would close up the only avenue of escape left to us. It will not be much gratification crushing the enemy, if we only attain that by letting ourselves be blown up by the volcano.”
Alexandros looked rather unhappy at this, as he was proud of his work, and would have liked to show how skilfully his battery worked; but he recognized the force of Roylands’ reasoning, so said no more about it. Justinian was also silent, but simply because he had conceived a plan for punishing his enemies; and looking at the battery, the rocks frowning over the pass, and the coils of rope near the pine tree, he glanced suddenly at Alexandros with a significant smile, whereupon the quick-witted Greek saw that the Demarch had some scheme in his head, and that his battery would yet be utilized. Accordingly, when all the men descended to the gorge for the purpose of levelling the palisade, Alexandros lingered behind with Justinian to receive his orders.
“What is it, Kyrion?” he asked in Greek.
“Alexandros,” replied the Demarch fiercely, “I am leaving this island forever, for, as you know, all our friends are dead; but I will leave behind me an offering to their manes of all those scoundrels who have given me such trouble. You must carry out my wish.”
“I will, Kyrion.”
“By those coils of rope up there you can escape down the face of the cliff?”
“Easily, Kyrion; I am a monkey in climbing.”
“Good! Well, when the pirates have gone up the pass, and we have gained the boat on the beach, you remain behind, and, when I give the signal, explode the mine. Thus the pass will be closed up, sealing the pirates up in the crater, so if the volcano does burst out, they will be blown to pieces.”