On the east, as already stated, the island is defended by the chain of reefs that stretches away to the Bermudas.
About nine o'clock I venture out of my cell.

They will pay little attention to me, and perhaps I may escape notice in the obscurity.

Ah! if I could get through that passage and hide behind some rock, so that I could witness what goes on at daybreak! And why should I not succeed now that Ker Karraje, Engineer Serko, Captain Spade, and the pirates have taken their posts outside?
The shores of the lake are deserted, but the entrance to the passage is kept by Count d'Artigas' Malay.

I saunter, without any fixed idea, towards Thomas Roch's laboratory.

This reminds me of my compatriot.