By this time there were fresh arrivals on the cliff path, the firing having drawn there men bearing lanterns, and the officer in charge shouted: "Got them?" "No, sir," said the first officer respectfully. "Sergeant Liss is down badly hurt with a stone, and Raddon's shoulder is hurt." "But the prisoners, man?" cried the newcomer, evidently one high in authority. "I'm afraid, sir--" "The prisoners?" "Below here somewhere, sir--two of them." "Yes, and the other?" "We were obliged to fire, sir, and there was a cry, and we heard one fall into the sea." CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. FREE! It was a slim, grey-haired, military looking man who listened to these words with the light of one of the lanterns full upon his face, which contracted into a heavy frown. "You challenged them--warned them well?" "Again and again, sir. It was not until they were right down here, after the sergeant had been hurt, that we fired." The governor, for he it was, shrugged his shoulders and gave his orders. Then four of the most active of the warders began to descend, lanterns in hand, each looking like a spark on the face of the black rock. The task was so perilous that at the end of a few minutes the governor ordered the men to halt, while ropes were fetched, and in due time these were brought and secured to the climbers' waists, the ropes being paid out by the warders on the shelf, the light of the lanterns being now supplemented by the blue lights held in the sterns of the fast approaching cutters. "Ahoy, there, ashore!" was shouted by the officer in one of the boats; "men escaping?" "Yes; three," was shouted back. "Row to and fro, and see if you can make out a man swimming." "Right! Swimming, indeed! Where's he to swim to?" grumbled the officer; and at a word then the boats separated, and were rowed slowly along at a short distance from the shore. Then came a hall from below, and a man bearing one lantern began to climb sidewise to where another had become stationary. "Well?" from the shelf. "One of 'em, sir." "Mind. Wait for help and look out for treachery." "He won't show no treachery," muttered the warder, holding the lantern over a ghastly face contorted by agony. "Well, mate, I'd give in now." "Yes," said the man with a groan. "I'm sick as a dog. Hold me. I shall go into the sea. Get me back. The doctor." He said no more. His grasp of the rock to which he clung relaxed, and he began to slide down sidewise till the warder thrust his leg beneath him and grasped one arm. "Look sharp!" he said to his companion. "Set the lantern down, and mine too." "Can you hold him?" "Yes; all right. Now untie the rope from round me, and make it fast under his arms." "Where's he hurt?" said the second warder. "Leg, I think. His things are all wet with blood. Look sharp." The knots were untied, and as the insensible, wounded man was held up, the rope was made fast under his arms, and at the word, the unfortunate wretch was carefully hauled up.