"Ay," said Johnson; "but not with guns. They would be useless here."
"With knife and hatchet then," returned the American.
The noise increased, and it was evident that the point of attack was the angle of the wall formed by its junction with the cliff.
"They are hardly six feet off now," said the boatswain.
"Right, Johnson!" replied Altamont; "but we have time enough to be ready for them."
And seizing a hatchet, he placed himself in fighting attitude, planting his right foot firmly forward and throwing himself back.
Hatteras and the others followed his example, and Johnson took care to load a gun in case of necessity.
Every minute the sound came nearer, till at last only a thin coating separated them from their assailants.
Presently this gave way with a loud crack, and a huge dark mass rolled over into the room.
Altamont had already swung his hatchet to strike, when he was arrested by a well-known voice, exclaiming-