Some were hurriedly moving away from the motor-boat, but four were swimming towards it; and, of those four, two could not fail to reach it.
Suddenly François and Stéphane made the same movement, the movement of marksmen taking aim.
There were two flashes, followed by the sound of a single report.
The heads of the two swimmers disappeared.
"Oh, the monsters!" stammered Véronique, almost swooning and falling on her knees.
Honorine, beside her, began screaming:
Her voice did not carry, first because it was too weak and then the wind was in her face. But she continued:
"François! François!"
She next stumbled across the room and into the corridor, in search of something, and returned to the window, still shouting: