ey would stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, until the day were won
or lost and Ken's Island gave up its mysteries, or gathered us for that
last great sleep-time from which there is no waking.

CHAPTER XXII

THE BEGINNING OF THE SIXTY HOURS

It was near about midday on a Saturday that we saved the poor folks
from the island, and not long after midnight on the Monday that our
troubles came to a head. I like to call these the "sixty hours"; and as
what I have to write of them is written, as it were, from watch to
watch, so swiftly did things happen, I will try to make a diary of it
that you may follow me more closely.

_Saturday, May 27th. At midday._

There are nine people rescued from the ship, and one of these a girl,
Isabel, the daughter of Captain Nepeen, of the American navy. Her
father is with her, a tall, stately man, very quiet and orderly, and
quite ready to take a man's duty in the house. Of the others, the most
part are American seamen, for this was an ocean-going steamer, Silver
Bell, trading from American ports to Yokohama. All are very astonished
at the things they have seen and heard both in this house and upon
Ken's Island; but they are too ill to take much part in them, and the
young lady lies still in a dead trance. Doctor Gray says that he will
save her; but another man, knowing less, might think that she was dead.

_The same day. At four o'clock._

They waked me from sleep at this hour to tell me that the men in the
caverns below were beating upon the iron doors of the corridor, and
appeared likely to force their way up to our part of the house. Captain
Nepeen brought the news himself, and had a long talk with me. I found
him a cultured man, and one who got a grip of things sooner than I had
expected.

"Mr. Begg," he said, "it is plain that we have fallen into the hands of
a very great scoundrel. I cannot imagine what kind of intellect has
made use of this extraordinary place, but I can very plainly divine the
purpose. It is for you and me to answer to civilization and justice. We
must begin at once, Captain Begg, without any loss of time," says he.

I answered him a little sharply, perhaps, being not over-pleased that
he should make so light of my own part in the matter.

"Sir," said I, "what a seaman can do I have done already, or you would
not be here to speak of it. Let that go by. The news that you bring
won't wait for civilities. It must be plain to you that if we are to
stand a s