no matter
what ills threatened, surely the little army mustered on the Grand-pere
rock would stand or fall together!

An unerring token of unity was forthcoming at once.

"Please, miss, an' gents all, may we smoke?" pleaded a voice.

Iris was for an immediate permission, but De Sylva shook his head.

"Not until the tide falls," he said. "There is a very real fear of a
visit from the launch. It has passed this spot four times during the
past two days--ever since my absence was discovered, in fact. The
soldiers have searched every outlying island, but they have avoided
Grand-pere because it is believed that a landing is highly dangerous if
not quite impracticable. My friend Marcel, a fisherman, discovered by
accident the only safe means of reaching the path which winds round the
island. Happily, the wretch who betrayed the mission of the
_Andros-y-Mela_ did not know the secret of my refuge. And I see now
that the Governor must be convinced that I am still hiding among the
cliffs, or your vessel would not have appeared off South Point this
morning. No, there must be no smoking as yet. In this clear air the
slightest cloud might be seen rising above the rocks from without."

Marcel reappeared at the entrance. With him was another man, whom
Hozier remembered seeing when he was hauled up from the ship with Iris.

"Ah, I was not mistaken," went on De Sylva. "Here comes news of the
launch! They have signaled for it across the island."

Marcel entered the cave with an expressive gesture, for long habit had
almost robbed him of his native vivacity. His companion, Domingo,
climbed the opposite wall of the ravine and stretched himself at full
length in a niche where there was room for a man to lie. Some tufts of
rough grass grew there in sufficient density to conceal his head while
he peered between the stalks. They could see him quite plainly, but no
one wanted to speak. Though the unceasing wash of a heavy swell
against the rocks would have drowned the noise had they shouted in
unison, there was no need to tell anyone present that a very real and
dangerous crisis had arrived. The slow change in the direction of
Domingo's gaze showed the approach and passing of the hostile vessel.
It was evident that a long halt was made in the channel close to the
wreck, of which some fragments remained above water. Still, curiously
enough, it was impossible for those on board the launch to read the
ship's name, since the