CHAPTER XVI.
SOME HOURS LATER,

THE effect of this news upon me may be imagined!
Unspeakable emotion filled my soul. I felt that the
climax of the situation was near. May it be such as
civilization and humanity demand!

Until now I have made my notes from day to day.
Henceforth I must post them up hour by hour, nay, every
minute. Who knows whether the last secret of Thomas
Roch may not be revealed, and what if I have not time to
record it! If I am killed during the attack, God
grant that this record of the last five months may be found
upon my body!

Ker Karraje, Serkd, Spade, and several others have
gone to take their posts on the coast outside. What would
I not give to follow them, and cower among the rocks to
watch the ships.

An hour later, they have all come back to the Beehive,
leaving twenty men to watch. As the days at this
season are still rather short, there is nothing to fear before
to-morrow. There is no question of a landing, and with

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