A dull, heavy blow, and a groan were heard almost together, cutting short the sergeant's challenge, for a heavy piece of rock struck him full in the face, while a couple more blocks whizzed by the others, to fall heavily far below where they stood. Simultaneously three dark figures bounded on to the edge and made at the little group. The attack was so sudden and direful in its results that the warders gave way right and left, while the convicts stooped, literally glided over the edge of the path, and began to descend the horribly steep cliff. "Don't keep together," cried a hoarse voice from below. "Every man for himself now." "Fire!" shouted one of the warders; and almost together three rifles flashed out their contents, followed by a derisive laugh. Then the warder who had been ordered off to the right fired, and as the shot echoed along the cliff there was a terrible cry, followed by a rush as of something falling. "Now, then, surrender!" cried one of the warders, who was reloading rapidly, just as rapid steps were heard coming along the path. "Where are they?" shouted an authoritative voice as ten or a dozen more men were now halted on the shelf-like path. "Right below here, sir. One of 'em down." "Halt, there! Do you hear, men? Surrender at once; you can't escape." No reply, but those above could hear the scuffling noise of those descending and the rattle of a heavy stone, followed by a dull plunge. "Your blood be on your own heads, then," said the officer who had now come up. "Once more: in the queen's name, surrender!" No answer, but the hurried rustle of the descending fugitives. Sharp orders were given, and then came the fatal word: "Fire!" Several rifles rattled out their deadly challenge now, and as the warders peered over into the darkness, up through the heavy smoke came a peculiar snarl, more like the cry of a savage beast than the utterance of a human throat, while directly after, sending a thrill of horror through the men who were looking down, there was the sound of the heavy plunge as of something falling from a great height into the sea. Then silence, save that the heavy breathing of the warders was audible as they listened for the cry, "Help!" which they expected to hear from the water when the wounded man rose to the surface, not one of the guard daring in his own mind to think upon either of the shots fired as being fatal. At that moment there was a flash from off the sea a quarter of a mile away, and a few moments later another glare, both sending a brilliant path of light across the smooth water. And now, plainly seen in the midst of a bluish halo on the black night, there stood out the rigging and hull of a ship, with figures moving here and there; two boats were lowered down, and directly after the water flashed and sparkled as oars were dipped, and the man-of-war cutters, with their armed crews, were rowed in toward the rocks.