Three times during the day the captain paid a visit to the rocky island.  On his return for the last time before nightfall he said to Francis: 

“The wind is certainly falling.  I hope that tomorrow morning we shall be able to get out of this trap.  I am convinced that there is danger.”

“You see nothing else, do you, captain, beyond the departure of that craft, to make you think that there is danger?”

“Yes, I have seen two things,” the captain said.  “In the first place, the demeanour of the people has changed.  They do not seem more unfriendly than they were before, but as I moved about the place today, it seemed to me that there was a suppressed excitement—­people gathered together and talked earnestly, and separated if any of our crew happened to go near them; even laughed when they thought that none of us were looking, and looked serious and sullen if we turned round.  I am convinced that they are expecting something to happen.

“I have another reason for suspecting it.  I have kept a sharp watch on that high hill behind the village; they tell me there is nothing at the top except some curious stones, that look as if they had once been trees, so there is nothing they can want to go up for.  Several times today I have made out the figures of men climbing that hill.  When they got to the top they stood for some time as if they were looking out over the sea, and then came down again without doing anything.  Now, men do not climb such a hill as that merely for exercise.  They went up because they expected to see something, and that something could only be a fleet of pirate boats from the other islands.  I would give a year’s pay if we could get out of this place this evening, but it cannot be done, and we must wait till tomorrow morning.  I will try then, even though I risk being driven on the rocks.  However, if they do come tonight they will not catch us asleep.”

Orders were issued that the whole crew were to remain in readiness for attack, and that those whose watch was below were to sleep with their arms beside them.  The lower ports were all closed, a strong watch was kept on deck, and it was certain that, whatever happened, the Bonito would not be taken by surprise.

Being assured by the captain that it was not probable that any attack would be made before morning, as the pirates, not knowing their exact position, would wait until the first gleam of daylight enabled them to make out where she was lying, and to advance in order against her, Francis lay down on his couch, leaving orders that, if asleep, he was to be called two hours before daybreak.  He slept but little, however, getting up frequently and going out to ascertain if any sounds indicated the presence of an enemy.

Upon one of these occasions he found that the person leaning next to him against the bulwark, and gazing towards the mouth of the harbour, was Giuseppi.

“Have you been here long, Giuseppi?”