Antonio returned in an hour's time and declared that flight was impossible:
"Half the trenches," he said, "are in the hands of the assailants, who have even penetrated into the enclosure. And they won't let any one pass, any more than the besieged will."
"Why?"
"They're afraid of gold being taken away. It seems that there's a sort of discipline among them and that they're obeying leaders whose object is to capture from the besieged the enormous booty which they have accumulated. And, as the assailants are ten or even twenty to one, we must expect a wholesale massacre!"
The night was full of tumult. Simon observed that the dense layer of clouds was breaking up in places and that gleams of light were falling from the starry sky. They could see figures darting across the arena. Two men first, then a number of others boarded the Ville de Dunkerque and went down the nearest companion way.
"Rolleston's accomplices returning," murmured Antonio.
"What for? Are they looking for Rolleston?"
"No, they think he's dead. But there are the bags, the bags filled with coin, and they are all going to fill their pockets."
"The gold is there, then?"
"In the cabins. Rolleston's share on one side; his accomplices on the other."