270 FOR THE FLAG

attentions due to a rich yachtsman, but the welcome
merited by the pirate !

However, if the appearance of the Sword was really
the forerunner cf a combined attack upon the island, one
question presents itself—a question of the gravest impor-
tance to the future of Backcup.

So one day—very cautiously, not wishing to excite any
suspicion—I tried to sound Serké on this subject.

We were in the vicinity of the laboratory. The con-
versation had lasted some minutes, when my colleague
began to speak of the extraordinary advent of a submarine
boat of English nationality in the lagoon. This time he
appeared inclined to think an attempt against Ker
Karraje’s band had been intended.

** That is not my opinion,’ I replied, so as to get to the
question I wanted to put to him.

“Why ?” he asked.

“ Because, if your retreat were known, a fresh effort would
have already been made, if not to enter the cave, at least ta
destroy Backcup.”

“To destroy it!” cried the engineer, ‘‘to destroy it!
That would be, to say the least, very dangerous, with the
means of defence now at our disposal.”

“They don’t know that, M. Serké. No one in either
the New or the Old World knows that M. Roch was
carried off by you—that you are treating with him for his
invention.”

He made no answer to this observation, It was un-

answerable,