THE ADVICE OF SERKO THE ENGINEER 207

laboratory. Ker Karraje and Serké were quietly survey-
ing the edge of the lagoon. The island had not been
attacked during the night. . . . Still the noise of cannon-
ading at close quarters had disturbed my rest.

At that moment Ker Karraje went back to his apart-
ments and the engineer joined me, with his laughing air
and mocking face, the same as ever.

“Well, Mr. Simon Hart,” he said, “are you growing
accustomed to life in this quiet spot? Are you appre-
ciating the advantages of our enchanted grotto as they
deserve? Have you renounced the hope of regaining
your liberty some day or other—of flying from this
delightful spot, and of leaving,—

“ Ces lieux charmants
Ot mon Ame ravie,
Aimait 4 contempler Sylvie”?

What was the good of getting into a rage with this
scoffer? I answered him calmly,—

“No, I have not renounced it, and I always count on
regaining my liberty.”

“What, Mr. Hart, deprive us of a man we all esteem—
and me of a confrére who has perhaps detected a portion
of M. Roch’s secrets in the midst of his ramblings? You
are not serious.”

Ah, it is for that reason they persist in keeping me in
their prison of Backcup? They suppose that the inven-
tion is partly known to me. They hope to make me
speak if M. Roch refuses to do so. That is why I was
carried off with him, and have not. been sent to the