264 FOR THE FLAG

The news of the death of the lieutenant and his men
wrung my heart. But in order to act my part, as if they
were men I did not know—that I was supposed not to
know—I had to control myself. It was essential that I
should give rise to no suspicion of connivance between the
officer and me. I wonder whether Serko does really
attribute that visit to ‘‘mere accident”: he may have his
reasons for admitting, provisionally at least, the explana-
tion I invented.

And thus that unexpected opportunity of gaining my
liberty is lost. And what will be the result? In
any case everything will be known about Ker Karraje the
pirate, for my declaration is in the hands of the English
authorities. When the Sword does not return to the
Bermudas, no doubt new measures will be taken against
Backcup, where, but for the unfortunate coincidence
—the entry of the tug at the moment of the Szora’s
departure—I should be a prisoner no longer.

J have resumed my ordinary existence, and having in-
spired no suspicion I am allowed perfect freedom in the
cavern.

This last adventure has had no effect whatever upon my
compatriot. Careful treatment saved him, as it saved me.
In the full plenitude of his intellectual faculties he has
taken up his work again, and he passes whole days in his
laboratory.

The £ééa returned from her last voyage laden with
bales, cases, and quantities of various provisions, so I con-
clude that several piracies had been committed.