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           AndwhoknowsbutthattheyhadconceivedtheimpossiblehopeofbringingbackAyrtontothemselves?Hewouldhavebeenveryusefultothem,iftheyhadbeenabletomakehimturntraitor!

           Thisincidentwas,therefore,favorablyinterpretedatthecorral,anditnolongerappearedimpossiblethattheyshouldfindAyrtonagain.Onhisside,ifhewasonlyaprisoner,Ayrtonwouldnodoubtdoallhecouldtoescapefromthehandsofthevillains,andthiswouldbeapowerfulaidtothesettlers!

           "Atanyrate,"observedGideonSpilett,"ifhappilyAyrtondidmanagetoescape,hewouldgodirectlytoGraniteHouse,forhecouldnotknowoftheattemptedassassinationofwhichHerberthasbeenavictim,andconsequentlywouldneverthinkofourbeingimprisonedinthecorral."

           "Oh!Iwishthathewasthere,atGraniteHouse!"criedPencroft,"andthatwewerethere,too!For,althoughtherascalscandonothingtoourhouse,theymayplundertheplateau,ourplantations,ourpoultry-yard!"

           Pencrofthadbecomeathoroughfarmer,heartilyattachedtohiscrops.ButitmustbesaidthatHerbertwasmoreanxiousthananytoreturntoGraniteHouse,forheknewhowmuchthepresenceofthesettlerswasneededthere.Anditwashewhowaskeepingthematthecorral!Therefore,oneideaoccupiedhismind—toleavethecorral,andwhen!HebelievedhecouldbearremovaltoGraniteHouse.