CHAPTER XVIII
AFLOAT ONCE MORE
And now a new era began for the colonists of Charman Island.
Up to now they had had to struggle for their existence, now they were to work for their deliverance.
After the excitement caused by the incidents of the strife, a very natural reaction set in.
They were, as it were, overwhelmed with their success. The danger was over, and it appeared greater than it had ever been — much greater, in fact, than it was. After the first engagement in Trap Woods, their chances had considerably improved. But without Forbes's intervention, Walston, Cook, and Brandt would have escaped. Moko would not have dared to fire his gun and risk killing Costar and Jack.
What would then have happened? At what price would Walston have given back his prisoners? When Briant and his comrades coolly reviewed the situation, a sort of terror seized hold of them. It did not last long, for until the fate of Rock and Cope was settled, life on Charman Island could not be considered absolutely safe.
The heroes of the battle were congratulated as they deserved to be. Moko for his shot with the cannon, Jack for his coolness with the revolver. Fan received her fair share of caresses and a stock of marrowbones, with which Moko regaled her for having so cleverly pinned that rascal, Brandt.
After Moko's shower of grape, Briant had returned to the litter. A few minutes afterwards, Donagan had been laid in the hall without having recovered conscious-
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