from the moment when everything was in readiness for the carrying out of mr. clark’s scheme there were no sounds to be heard on the island save those caused by the apes or the myriad forms of insect life. it was as if the colonists had suddenly been stricken dumb; and so careful was the captain and his officers to carry out the plan thoroughly that this silence was not broken by any one under their command.
save for the six ominous-looking protuberances from the shutters, everything about the village was as it had been when the colonists fled before the pirates, and even human beings might have been deceived by this pretended abandonment of the island.
it was not expected that the apes would make any demonstration during the hours of darkness; therefore, with the exception of a sentinel at each loop-hole, the entire party slept until morning, when certain noises in the adjacent forest proclaimed the fact that goliah’s forces had taken note of the unusual silence.
it so chanced that philip was stationed at a point overlooking the same portion of the thicket as when he alone defended the building; and inasmuch as it[267] was directly opposite his station that goliah had taken his stand during both times the settlement had been attacked, the animal-trainer naturally hoped the huge baboon would direct the movements of his followers from the spot he had previously occupied.
if the leader could be killed it was but natural to suppose his followers would be dispersed, and philip’s great desire was to put an end to the career of the baboon who had caused him so much suffering.
two hours after sunrise the first decisive move was made by the enemy. previous to this moment they could have been heard chattering among the thickets; but now a party of about a dozen, who had evidently been sent forward to spy out the situation of affairs, came boldly from the shelter of the trees and marched entirely around the settlement.
the purpose of the concealed party was to wait until the main body of the enemy had been massed where a volley of grape-shot could be sent into their midst; therefore these spies were allowed to return to their leaders unmolested.
at the end of the third hour another party reconnoitered in much the same fashion as had the first, save that they went on the verandas of several cottages, trying the doors and windows, and when they disappeared to make a report philip understood that the time was near at hand when a salutary lesson might be given.
from the thicket could be heard a noise as of[268] breaking limbs, shrill cries of command, and now and then a hoarse shout from goliah, until suddenly fully one-half the main body of apes burst into view from among the foliage.
philip looked in vain for goliah; that wily old baboon had no intention of exposing his precious person when there were soldiers enough under his command to do the fighting.
the guns were already trained, and at the signal, which was the discharge of a revolver by one of the men stationed near captain seaworth, the six cannon belched forth their iron hail, mowing great gaps through the enemy’s lines.
there was no opportunity to repeat this dose, for in a twinkling every animal who yet had command of his limbs disappeared, and nothing was left in view of the concealed party save huge piles of dead and wounded.
although it was not probable the apes would show themselves again, no sound was made by those in concealment save such as was necessary in reloading the cannon, and until four o’clock that afternoon all remained on the alert, but without seeing or hearing a single member of goliah’s forces.
that it was useless to continue the ambush any longer captain seaworth knew perfectly well, and at the word of command the colonists came out from their hiding-places to perform such duties as were absolutely necessary in the way of preparing food for themselves and their wounded comrades in the court-yard.
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among the first work to be done was to bury the slain, for in that tropical climate the bodies would decompose rapidly, and thus, even after death, be a source of danger to those who had killed them.
the number of the fallen was less than had at first been supposed. one hundred and twelve were all that could be found, and while it was reasonable to believe fully as many more had received wounds of which they would soon die, the ranks of the enemy had not been decimated to any appreciable extent.
the sun set before the deep trench which had been dug to receive the bodies was filled, and after this duty had been performed preparations were made for the night, since it was possible goliah might try to avenge the blow which had been struck.
as the shadows lengthened and the deep gloom settled down over the island gunners were stationed at the pieces once more, and again the little village was in a state of comparative repose, save directly in the rear, where half a dozen men were bringing water and hewing wood.
captain seaworth had the same idea as had philip, that, true to their imitative habits, the apes, if they made an attack after nightfall, would do so at the same point from which their previous efforts had been directed, and, therefore, but little attention was given to what might be passing in the rear.
the cooks were preparing a hearty meal, for the men in ambush had not been served with anything warm during two days. the kitchen doors and[270] windows were open, and the laborers were pursuing their respective tasks without thought of harm, when suddenly a volley of rocks, coming thickly as drops of rain in a summer shower, descended upon the unprotected portion of the main building, taking by most complete surprise even those who were on the alert.
as these missiles struck the sides and roof of the house or fell through the open doors and windows, the noise was so deafening that fully five minutes elapsed before captain seaworth could make his orders understood, and in that brief time no slight amount of damage had been done.
the awning in the court-yard was partially torn down; several of the wounded men received still further injury; two of the cooks were disabled, and the stove was overturned, strewing the coals on the kitchen floor in such a way as started a blaze among the dry wood, which threatened speedy destruction to the house.
there was no longer any thought of retaliation, for it was necessary that the flames should be extinguished before they gained too much headway, and the orders were to form lines for passing water.
hardly had this work been begun when another shower of rocks descended upon the laborers, driving them in from the spring as several of the party fell under the well-directed assault, and during the short time of confusion which ensued the fire gained no inconsiderable headway.
only three or four men could work to advantage[271] at bringing water from the spring in the court-yard, for the flow was not large enough to permit of much being carried at a time, and while they were engaged in this nearly useless labor captain seaworth ordered all the others save those in charge of the cannon to form a cordon around the building for the purpose of keeping up an incessant discharge of musketry into the thicket.
not a single ape could be seen as the men marched bravely to their posts amid the falling missiles, and their volleys, however rapid, had but little effect, owing to the fact that they were forced to fire at random.
after the muskets had been emptied half a dozen times, and the attack had been checked in some slight degree, every third man was told off to fight the flames; but so much time had elapsed that before the work was well begun it could be plainly seen that all their efforts were vain.
then, in order to save the lives of the helpless ones in the court-yard, a still larger number of defenders were assigned the duty of conveying the wounded to a building on the outskirts of the settlement, and while this was being done it seemed as if every tree in the vicinity concealed an enemy who kept up a continuous discharge of rocks.
for those in charge of the cannon to remain in the house where they could only shoot directly in front was useless, and under philip’s command the ordnance was taken outside. from this point, first in one direction and then another, heavy charges of[272] small shot were poured into the thicket from whence came the missiles in the greatest profusion, but evidently without doing much injury to the enemy.
the situation was now deplorable. that the main portion of the settlement would be consumed there could be no question, for the flames had fastened upon the wings on either side of the court-yard, and as all the cottages were of such an inflammable material it needed but little to complete the work of destruction.
the glare of the flames threw into brightest relief those who were struggling to protect themselves and save the property, and thus they afforded good targets for the unseen enemy, who had now completely surrounded the village.
