rds Thomas Roch--shout to him
that she is a French ship. He does not, cannot, know it.

At a sign from Engineer Serko the inventor has raised the phial.

The bugles sound louder and more strident. It is the salute to the
flag. A flag unfurls to the breeze--the tricolor, whose blue, white
and red sections stand out luminously against the sky.

Ah! What is this? I understand! Thomas Roch is fascinated at the sight
of his national emblem. Slowly he lowers his arm as the flag flutters
up to the mast-head. Then he draws back and covers his eyes with his
hand.

Heavens above! All sentiment of patriotism is not then dead in his
ulcerated heart, seeing that it beats at the sight of his country's
flag!

My emotion is not less than his. At the risk of being seen--and what
do I now care if I am seen?--I creep over the rocks. I will be there
to sustain Thomas Roch and prevent him from weakening. If I pay for it
with my life I will once more adjure him in the name of his country. I
will cry to him:

"Frenchman, it is the tricolor that flies on yonder ship! Frenchman,
it is a very part of France that is approaching you! Frenchman, would
you be so criminal as to strike it?"

But my intervention will not be necessary. Thomas Roch is not a prey
to one of the fits to which he was formerly subject. He is perfectly
sane.

When he found himself facing the flag he understood--and drew back.

A few pirates approach to lead him to the trestle again. He struggles
and pushes them from him.

Ker Karraje and Engineer Serko run up. They point to the rapidly
advancing ship. They order him to launch his engines.

Thomas Roch refuses.

Captain Spade and the others, mad with rage, menace him--curse
him--strike him--try to wrest the phial from him.

Roch throws it on the ground and crushes it under foot.

Then panic seizes upon the crowd of wretches. The cruiser has passed
the zone and they cannot return her fire. Shells begin to rain all
over the island, bursting the rocks in every direction.

But where is Thomas Roch? Has he been killed by one of the
projectiles? No, I see him for the last time as he dashes into the
passage.

Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko and the others follow him to seek shelter
inside of Back Cup.

I will not return to the cavern at any price, even if I get killed by
staying where I am.

I will jot down my final notes and when the French sailors land on the
point I will go--

END OF ENGINEER SIMON HART'S N