Therewasnolongeranydoubtastothepirates’intentions.Theyhaddroppedanchoratashortdistancefromtheisland,anditwasevidentthatthenextdaybymeansoftheirboatstheypurposedtolandonthebeach!

           CyrusHardingandhiscompanionswerereadytoact,but,determinedthoughtheywere,theymustnotforgettobeprudent.Perhapstheirpresencemightstillbeconcealedintheeventofthepiratescontentingthemselveswithlandingontheshorewithoutexaminingtheinterioroftheisland.Itmightbe,indeed,thattheironlyintentionwastoobtainfreshwaterfromtheMercy,anditwasnotimpossiblethatthebridge,thrownacrossamileandahalffromthemouth,andthemanufactoryattheChimneysmightescapetheirnotice.

           Butwhywasthatflaghoistedatthebrig’speak?Whatwasthatshotfiredfor?Purebravadodoubtless,unlessitwasasignoftheactoftakingpossession.Hardingknewnowthatthevesselwaswellarmed.AndwhathadthecolonistsofLincolnIslandtoreplytothepirates’guns?Afewmusketsonly.

           "However,"observedCyrusHarding,"hereweareinanimpregnableposition.Theenemycannotdiscoverthemouthoftheoutlet,nowthatitishiddenunderreedsandgrass,andconsequentlyitwouldbeimpossibleforthemtopenetrateintoGraniteHouse."

           "Butourplantations,ourpoultry-yard,ourcorral,all,everything!"exclaimedPencroft,stampinghisfoot."Theymayspoileverything,destroyeverythinginafewhours!"

           "Everything,Pencroft,"answeredHarding,"andwehavenomeansofpreventingthem."