FIVE WEEKS Ig

not to trouble myself. My meals come punctually, ac-
cording to the regulations of Count d’Artigas’ kitchen
—I cannot break myself of the habit of using that title.
On the question of diet I am not hard to please, I
grant, but it would be unjust to make the least’ com-
plaint on that subject. The food supplied to me leaves
nothing to be desired, thanks to the supplies brought
by the Z£éda.

It is fortunate that the possibility of writing has never
failed me during these long hours of idleness. I have thus
been able to enter the most insignificant occurrences in
my note-book, and I have made my entries day by day.
I will continue this work so long as the pen is not torn
from my hands. Perhaps it will serve hereafter to reveal
the mysteries of Backcup.

From the 5th to the 25th July—Two weeks have passed,
and all my attempts to get near M. Roch have been
unsuccessful. Jt is. evident that measures are taken to
withhold him from my influence, inefficacious as that has
been hitherto. My only hope is that Count d’Artigas,
Serko, and Captain Spade will waste both their time and
.trouble in endeavouring to appropriate the inventor’s
secrets. .

' Three or four times—to my knowledge at least—Roch
and Serké have been walking together round the lagoon.
.So far as I can judge, the former seemed to listen with a
certain amount of attention to what his companion said to
him. The latter made him visit the whole cavern, con-
ducted him over the electrical works, showed him in detail