ONE AGAINST FIVE 295

noiselessly. When near the surface, I put my.head out
and looked.

No one! No one!

I skirted the base of the island towards the west, on the
side where the reefs make it inaccessible and no look-out
is necessary. Ireached a narrow excavation, exactly at
the foot of the natural arch which formed the handle of
the overturned cup.

So I am out of this cavern, not yet free, but on the
threshold of liberty!

From this spot I can see one of the points, on the west,
projects into the sea. I can distinguish the figures of
sentinels outlined against the sky.

The firmament is clear, and the constellations shine
with the intense brightness which we observe on cold
winter nights.

On the horizon, towards the north-west, like a luminous
line, the lights of the warships show. Thereare some faint
gleams in the east, and I calculate it must be about five
o'clock in the morning.

November 18th.—Already the light is sufficient and I shall
be able to complete my notes—the last lines perhaps that
my hand is ever to trace. I have begun to write, and as
each incident occurs during the attack it shall find a place
in my notebook, The light damp vapour that lies upon
the sea is being dispersed quickly by the breeze. I can
at length distinguish the five ships drawn up in line at a
distance of between five and six miles at least—con-
sequently beyond the range of the Roch missiles.