They could do nothing but take refuge on the knoll, within the battery. That was the only place where there was any possibility of putting up a defence.
The women and Bob crept under cover in the hangar which sheltered the two guns. They did not let a murmur escape them.
For one moment M. Zermatt thought of carrying them over to the Falconhurst shore in the boat. But what would become of the unfortunate women if, after the islet had been invaded, their companions were unable to join them? Besides, they would never have consented to go.
It was a little after four o’clock when a confused noise announced the presence of the savages, a couple of hundred yards away. Captain Gould, M. Zermatt, Mr. Wolston, Ernest, Frank, James, and the boatswain, armed with carbines, were ready to fire, while Fritz and Jack stood with matches lighted near the two little cannon, only waiting for the moment to rake the slopes of the knoll with grape-shot.
When the black shadows showed against the early light of dawn, Captain Gould gave the order in a low tone to fire in that direction.
Seven or eight reports rang out, followed by horrible cries which proved that more than one bullet had found its billet in the crowd.
Three attacks had to be repelled before sunrise. In the last a score or so of natives succeeded in reaching the crest of the knoll. Although some of them had been mortally hit, the carbines could no longer keep them in check, and but for a double discharge of the ordnance the battery would probably have been carried in this assault.
At daylight the band withdrew among the trees, near the store, as if they meant to wait until the next night to renew the attack.
Unfortunately the defenders had almost exhausted their cartridges. When they were reduced to the two guns, which could only be directed towards the base of the knoll, how could they cover the summit?
A council was held to consider the situation. If they could not carry on the resistance under these conditions, would it not be possible to leave Shark’s Island, land on Falconhurst beach, and seek refuge within the Promised Land or in some other part of the island—all of them together, this time? Or would it be better to make a rush on the savages and, with the advantage of carbines over bows and arrows, compel them to take to the sea again? But M. Zermatt and his party were only nine against the scores who surrounded the knoll.