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           Itwas,therefore,reasonabletobelievethattheengineer’sapprehensionswouldnotbejustified,andthatthepresenceofthisvesselinthevicinityoftheislandwasfraughtwithnodanger.

           Pencroft,afteraminuteexamination,wasablepositivelytoaffirmthatthevesselwasriggedasabrig,andthatshewasstandingobliquelytowardsthecoast,onthestarboardtack,underhertopsailsandtop-gallant-sails.ThiswasconfirmedbyAyrton.ButbycontinuinginthisdirectionshemustsoondisappearbehindClawCape,asthewindwasfromthesouthwest,andtowatchheritwouldbethennecessarytoascendtheheightofWashingtonBay,nearPortBalloon—aprovokingcircumstance,foritwasalreadyfiveo’clockintheevening,andthetwilightwouldsoonmakeanyobservationextremelydifficult.

           "Whatshallwedowhennightcomeson?"askedGideonSpilett."Shallwelightafire,soastosignalourpresenceonthecoast?"

           Thiswasaseriousquestion,andyet,althoughtheengineerstillretainedsomeofhispresentiments,itwasansweredintheaffirmative.Duringthenighttheshipmightdisappearandleaveforever,and,thisshipgone,wouldanothereverreturntothewatersofLincolnIsland?Whocouldforeseewhatthefuturewouldthenhaveinstoreforthecolonists?

           "Yes,"saidthereporter,"weoughttomakeknowntothatvessel,whoevershemaybe,thattheislandisinhabited.Toneglecttheopportunitywhichisofferedtousmightbetocreateeverlastingregrets."