uard!"

"Hum!" observed the reporter, who had not given any decided opinion.
"They are six and well-armed. If they each lay hid in a corner, and
each fired at one of us, they would soon be masters of the colony!"

"Why have they not done so?" said Herbert. "No doubt because it was not
their interest to do it. Besides, we are six also."

"Well, well!" replied Pencroft, whom no reasoning could have convinced.
"Let us leave these good people to do what they like, and don't think
anything more about them!"

"Come, Pencroft," said Neb, "don't make yourself out so bad as all that!
Suppose one of these unfortunate men were here before you, within good
range of your gun, you would not fire."

"I would fire on him as I would on a mad dog, Neb," replied Pencroft
coldly.

"Pencroft," said the engineer, "you have always shown much deference to
my advice; will you, in this matter, yield to me?"

"I will do as you please, Captain Harding," answered the sailor, who was
not at all convinced.

"Very well, wait, and we will not attack them unless we are attacked
first."

Thus their behaviour towards the pirates was agreed upon, although
Pencroft augured nothing good from it. They were not to attack them,
but were to be on their guard. After all, the island was large and
fertile. If any sentiment of honesty yet remained in the bottom of
their hearts, these wretches might perhaps be reclaimed. Was it not
their interest in the situation in which they found themselves to begin
a new life? At any rate, for humanity's sake alone, it would be right
to wait. The colonists would no longer, as before, be able to go and
come without fear. Hitherto they had only wild beasts to guard against,
and now six convicts of the worst description, perhaps, were roaming
over their island. It was serious, certainly, and to less brave men, it
would have been security lost! No matter! At present, the colonists
had reason on their side against Pencroft. Would they be right in the
future? That remained to be seen.

CHAPTER SIX.

EXPEDITIONS PLANNED--AYRTON AT THE CORRAL--VISIT TO PORT BALLOON--
PENCROFT'S OBSERVATIONS ON BOARD THE BONADVENTURE--DESPATCH SENT TO THE
CORRAL--NO REPLY FROM AYRTON--DEPARTURE THE NEXT DAY--THE REASON WHY THE
WIRE DID NOT WORK--A REPORT.

However, the chief business of the colonists was to make that complete
exploration of the island which had been decided upon, and which would
have two objects: to disc