ThesettlersinLincolnIslandhadnowregainedtheirdwelling,withouthavingbeenobligedtoreachitbytheoldopening,andwerethereforesparedthetroubleofmason’swork.Itwascertainlylucky,thatatthemomenttheywereabouttosetouttodoso,theapeshadbeenseizedwiththatterror,nolesssuddenthaninexplicable,whichhaddriventhemoutofGraniteHouse.Hadtheanimalsdiscoveredthattheywereabouttobeattackedfromanotherdirection?Thiswastheonlyexplanationoftheirsuddenretreat.

           Duringthedaythebodiesoftheapeswerecarriedintothewood,wheretheywereburied;thenthesettlersbusiedthemselvesinrepairingthedisordercausedbytheintruders,disorderbutnotdamage,foralthoughtheyhadturnedeverythingintheroomstopsy-turvy,yettheyhadbrokennothing.Nebrelightedhisstove,andthestoresinthelarderfurnishedasubstantialrepast,towhichalldidamplejustice.

           Jupwasnotforgotten,andheatewithrelishsomestonepinealmondsandrhizomeroots,withwhichhewasabundantlysupplied.Pencrofthadunfastenedhisarms,butjudgeditbesttohavehislegstieduntiltheyweremoresureofhissubmission.

           Then,beforeretiringtorest,Hardingandhiscompanionsseatedroundtheirtable,discussedthoseplans,theexecutionofwhichwasmostpressing.