aning to make
for the west.

Then by degrees the long, slight vessel with its matting sail grew more
and more indistinct as it passed into the silvery haze caused by the
waves breaking upon the reef; but not until he felt perfectly certain
that they were safe, did the mate give the word for the fishing to begin
again.

"This puts another face upon our position, gentlemen," he said. "They
did not see us this time, but once they know that there is a vessel
ashore inland, they'll be after it like wasps at a plum, and we shall
have our work cut out to keep them off."

"They must come from the shore north of the volcano," said Lane. "Don't
you think so, Mr Rimmer?"

"No, sir, I don't, because I fancy that this must be an island, and if
it is, and plays up such games as we have seen, no savages would stay
upon it. But we shall see as soon as we have had our expedition."

"Which we ought to have been having to-day," said Panton, "instead of
coming fishing."

"If we had been up north to-day, those gentlemen might have seen us,"
said the mate.

"And if they had," said Drew, who was holding his hook for one of the
men to bait, "it strikes me that we should have had no more fishing."

"Well, as we have come fishing, gentlemen, let's see if we can't take
back a good bagful for the hungry lads at the brig."

"Ready for another go, Mr Lane, sir?" said Smith.

"Oh, yes, I'm ready, but we don't want such a big one this time,"
replied Oliver, and once more he threw in the lead, a fresh one, for the
great fish they had hooked had broken away, carrying with it hooks,
snooding, and all.

Three lines were soon in now, and the party of fishers waited full of
expectancy for the first bite, but for some time there was no sign.

"Haul in, sir, and let's see if the bait's all right," said Smith.

Oliver followed the suggestion, and dragged in the hook perfectly bare.

"Something's had that," he said.

"Mine's gone too," cried Panton, who had followed suit, and directly
after Drew found that his bait was also gone.

Fresh baits were put on, and they threw into the rushing water again,
watching their lines as they were swept to and fro by the coming and
retiring waves.

"Seems as if there only was one fish, Lane," said Panton, "and you've
given him such a dose of hook and lead, that he has gone for good."

The words were hardly out of the young geologist's lips, before he felt
a sharp tug.

"Here's one!" he cried, and b