Thenextday,the8thdayofJanuary,afteradayandnightpassedatthecorral,wheretheyleftallinorder,CyrusHardingandAyrtonarrivedatGraniteHouse.

           Theengineerimmediatelycalledhiscompanionstogether,andinformedthemoftheimminentdangerwhichthreatenedLincolnIsland,andfromwhichnohumanpowercoulddeliverthem.

           "Myfriends,"hesaid,andhisvoicebetrayedthedepthofhisemotion,"ourislandisnotamongthosewhichwillendurewhilethisearthendures.Itisdoomedtomoreorlessspeedydestruction,thecauseofwhichitbearswithinitself,andfromwhichnothingcansaveit."

           Thecolonistslookedateachother,thenattheengineer.Theydidnotclearlycomprehendhim.

           "Explainyourself,Cyrus!"saidGideonSpilett.

           "Iwilldoso,"repliedCyrusHarding,"orratherIwillsimplyaffordyoutheexplanationwhich,duringourfewminutesofprivateconversation,wasgivenmebyCaptainNemo."

           "CaptainNemo!"exclaimedthecolonists.

           "Yes,anditwasthelastservicehedesiredtorenderusbeforehisdeath!"

           "Thelastservice!"exclaimedPencroft,"thelastservice!Youwillseethatthoughheisdeadhewillrenderusothersyet!"

           "Butwhatdidthecaptainsay?"inquiredthereporter.

           "Iwilltellyou,myfriends,"saidtheengineer."LincolnIslanddoesnotresembletheotherislandsofthePacific,andafactofwhichCaptainNemohasmademecognizantmustsoonerorlaterbringaboutthesubversionofitsfoundation."