“What is to be done?” cried Peterkin as we observed a boat shoot from the vessel’s side and make for the entrance of the reef. “If they take us off the island, it will either be to throw us overboard for sport or to make pirates of us.”
I did not reply, but looked at Jack, as being our only resource in this emergency. He stood with folded arms, and his eyes fixed with a grave, anxious expression on the ground. “There is but one hope,” said he, turning with a sad expression of countenance to Peterkin. “Perhaps, after all, we may not have to resort to it. If these villains are anxious to take us, they will soon overrun the whole island. But come, follow me.”
Stopping abruptly in his speech, Jack bounded into the woods, and led us by a circuitous route to Spouting Cliff. Here he halted, and advancing cautiously to the rocks, glanced over their edge. We were soon by his side, and saw the boat, which was crowded with armed men, just touching the shore. In an instant the crew landed, formed line, and rushed up to our bower.
In a few seconds we saw them hurrying back to the boat, one of them swinging the poor cat round his head by the tail. On reaching the water’s edge he tossed it far into the sea, and joined his companions, who appeared to be holding a hasty council.
“You see what we may expect,” said Jack bitterly. “The man who will wantonly kill a poor brute for sport will think little of murdering a fellow-creature. Now, boys, we have but one chance left—the Diamond Cave.”
“The Diamond Cave!” cried Peterkin. “Then my chance is a poor one, for I could not dive into it if all the pirates on the Pacific were at my heels.”
“Nay, but,” said I, “we will take you down, Peterkin, if you will only trust us.”
As I spoke, we observed the pirates scatter over the beach, and radiate, as if from a centre, towards the woods and along shore.
“Now, Peterkin,” said Jack in a solemn tone, “you must make up your mind to do it, or we must make up our minds to die in your company.”
“Oh Jack, my dear friend!” cried Peterkin, turning pale, “leave me; I don’t believe they’ll think it worth while to kill me. Go, you and Ralph, and dive into the cave.”