Had the habit of watching the comedy of their menagerie been given up, the Lilamo would have still had to observe the enactment of history in the surrounding islands. It was part of their duty of defence to anticipate all armaments against Limanora; and they had discovered that there was unusual excitement amongst the various peoples since the arrival of the _Daydream_ in their waters. It was evident that this formed an epoch in the history of the archipelago. The Lilamo reported the movements of the portentous smoke-pennoned ship which sailed in the teeth of all winds like their own ships of the air. What was to prevent it approaching Limanora in spite of the force of the storm-cone? The thought brought the first trace of fear into the breasts of this people; for, once a foreign element had been able to force its way into their midst, how could they prevent moral contamination and swift retrogression? Their advance would crumble away in a few centuries, nothing but their material progress being likely to survive the incursion of barbarism. It was imperative that new measures of defence be adopted. It was then that the forces of Rimla had been enormously increased, thus making it possible for most of its energy to take the electric form in the storm-cone. With this they would be able to repel the new monster with so much metal in its bosom; they would play with it as with a toy on the water. All my wanderings had been narrowly watched, my landing in Aleofane, my escape from it, my sojourn in Tirralaria and ascent of Klimarol, my companionship with Sneekape and my scorn of him, my sympathy with the refugees in Nookoo, and my friendship with Noola. Nothing escaped their attention, and my character was analysed in the most minute way by deductions from the details of my conduct. It was decided that, if I showed eagerness and persistence enough, I should be allowed to land with Noola; but that my fire-ship and my men should be blown off from the coast.