"As none of us smoke," said he, "this pipe must have been lost — "
"By one of the men, unless it belonged to the Frenchman who was here before us."
No! The pipe had not belonged to Baudoin, who had died twenty years before. It had been dropped very recently, as the fragments of tobacco inside it clearly showed. A few days before, perhaps a few hours before, one of Walston's companions or perhaps Walston himself had been on this side of the lake.
Gordon and Briant returned at once to the cave. There Kate stated that she had seen this very pipe in Walston's possession.
There was now no doubt that the pirates had got round the south of the lake. Perhaps during the night they had reached the bank of Zealand River. And if French Den had been discovered, if Walston knew about the colony, would he not have thought that the tools, instruments, ammunition, and stores he was so much in need of were here to be had, and that seven active men would easily get the better of fifteen boys— especially if he could take them by surprise? Anyhow, there was no longer room to doubt that his party was now close to them.
Under such alarming circumstances, Briant agreed with his comrades that a more active watch should be arranged. During the day an outpost was stationed on Auckland Hill, so as to command the approaches from all sides. During the night two of the bigger boys mounted guard at the entrances to the cave. The doors were strengthened with supports, and in a moment it was rendered possible to barricade them with the large stones that were heaped up inside the cave In the narrow windows driven through the rock, the two little cannons were kept ready. One defended the Zealand River side, the other the side towards the lake. Guns and revolvers were so disposed as to be ready for use at the least alarm.
It was now the 27th of November. For two days the
