to resist the attack of a very much greater number than the defending
party. It was still in our mind to run out a palisade that should
connect our stronghold with the place where the skiff lay, but it was
too late, and we were now too exhausted to think of that, for we had
worked at our task ever since we had got the alarm, and it was really
impossible for us to do more in that work.

But before we rested we conveyed from our boat all our stores and all
our arms and ammunition--of which latter, indeed, we had no great
quantity, a matter which we had not heeded before, but which now gave us
great trouble. We brought in abundance of water, and we had ample
provisions, which the island itself had in chief part offered to us, so
that we could hold our own very well for a time in case it came to a
siege. Our hope, however, was that we might be able to prevent the
pirates from effecting a landing at all.

When we went to seek rest for the night we took care to set good guard
and to keep strict watch, for a night attack was possible, if it was not
very likely.

Though we were all very tired, both bodily and mentally, by reason of
the labour of our hands and the strain upon our minds, I do not think
that any of us found sleep very easy to come at first. I only know that
I lay on my back and stared up at the stars--for the night was too hot
to sleep under cover--for long enough. At last I fell asleep, and
through sleep into a fitful feverish dream, which chopped and changed
from one place and subject to another; but at last it settled down into
one decided dream--and that was a good dream, for it was a dream of
Marjorie. It seemed that I was walking with her along the downs beyond
Sendennis, not far from that place where Lancelot found me blubbering in
years gone by, and that I was telling her that I loved her, and that she
let me hold her hand while I told her, which showed that she was not
averse to my tale, and that when I had done she turned and looked me
full in the face, and there was love--love for me--in her eyes.

Then I awoke suddenly and found it was full day, and that Marjorie was
bending over me. For the moment I did not recollect where I was, and
stared in surprise at the great wooden paling by which we were
surrounded. Then recollection of the whole situation came back to me in
a flash, and I leapt to my feet.

All around me the men were making preparations for the morning meal, or
were engaged in looking to