at, whilst it would doubtless require
a good strong breeze to show her off to the utmost advantage, Nicholls
and Manners--who might both be expected to know a good hull when they
saw it--confidently predicted that she would prove very nimble even in
light airs. And so confident were they of her sea-going powers that
they averred, again and again, they would not be afraid to face in her
even such a hurricane as that which had robbed them of poor Captain
Blyth; indeed, they even went the length of volunteering to take her
home to England after she should have accomplished the primary mission
of her existence in conveying the party to a civilised port. Matters
were in this satisfactory state, the work having reached such a stage of
advancement that the rigging of the _Petrel_--as they had decided to
name the little cutter--had already been begun, and some talk was being
indulged in of hopes that the launch might be accomplished within the
following week, when, on a bright Sunday afternoon, Gaunt left Fay
Island for the main, taking the two children with him, the object of the
little party being to gather a few of the strangely-shaped and
exceedingly beautiful shells to be found on the sea-beach, as mementoes
of their long sojourn on the island. The ladies preferred to remain at
home, deciding that the day was far too hot for walking exercise; and
the doctor remained with them for company. It was getting on toward
sunset--indeed, the sun had already disappeared behind the high ground
to the westward of the fort--and the doctor with his two fair companions
had ascended to the flat, rampart-like roof of the building to enjoy the
cool, refreshing breeze and watch for the return of the shell-gatherers,
when the sound of a musket-shot, quickly followed by some five or six
others, broke upon the air with startling effect, and immediately
afterwards the head of a lofty triangular sail glided into view from
behind some tall bushes which had hitherto concealed its approach. That
a strange craft of some sort was in the river was the first idea which
presented itself to Henderson's mind; that Gaunt--who was unarmed--and
the children were but too probably at that moment crossing from the
main, and consequently in full view from the deck of the strange craft,
was the next; and that the firing must necessarily have proceeded from
the unlooked-for visitor and be an indication of hostility, possibly
directed against Gaunt and the youngs