Quite unexpectedly, they blundered into a small picket stationed
there. Its object was to challenge all passers-by during the dark
hours, and it formed part of the scheme already elaborated by the
authorities for a complete search of every foot of ground. But
Brazilian soldiers are apt to be lax in such matters. These men were
all lying down, and smoking. For a marvel, they happened to be silent
when Marcel led his cohort into the open road. They were listening, in
fact, to the crackling of the undergrowth, though utterly unsuspicious
of its cause, and the first intimation of danger was given by the
startling challenge:
"Who goes there?"
It was familiar enough to island ears, and the convict answered readily:
"A friend!"
"Several friends, it would seem," laughed a voice. "Let us see who
these friends are."
Luckily, in response to De Sylva's sibilant order, most of the
_Andromeda's_ crew were hidden by the scrub from which they were about
to emerge.
The soldiers rose, and strolled nearer leisurely.
"Now!" shouted De Sylva, leaping forward.
There was a wild scurry, two or three shots were fired, and Hozier
found himself on the ground gripping the throat of a bronzed man whom
he had shoved backward with a thrust, for he had no time to swing his
stake for a blow.
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