len in with the Crater,
between Betto's group and the Reef, which was bringing them somewhat to
leeward, and Mr. Woolston now thought he would try a more southern
route, and see if he could not make the Peak, which would not only bring
him to windward, but which place was certainly giving him a more
striking object to fall in with than the lower islands of the group.

It was on the morning of one of the most brilliant days of those seas,
that Captain Saunders met the ex-governor on the quarter-deck, as the
latter appeared there for the first time since quitting his berth, and
announced that he had just sent look-outs aloft to have a search for the
land. By his reckoning they must be within twelve leagues of the Peak,
and he was rather surprised that it was not yet visible from the deck.
Make it they must very shortly; for he was quite certain of his
latitude, and did not believe that he could be much out of the way, as
respected his longitude. The cross-trees were next hailed, and the
inquiry was made if the Peak could not be seen ahead. The answer was,
that no land was in sight, in any part of the ocean!

For several hours the ship ran down before the wind, and the same
extraordinary vacancy existed on the waters! At length an island was
seen, and the news was sent down on deck. Towards that island the ship
steered, and about two in the afternoon, she came up close under its
lee, and backed her topsail. This island was a stranger to all on board!
The navigators were confident they must be within a few leagues of the
Peak, as well as of the volcano; yet nothing could be seen of either,
while here was an unknown island in their places! This strange land was
of very small dimensions, rising out of the sea about three hundred
feet. Its extent was no great matter, half a mile in diameter perhaps,
and its form nearly circular. A boat was lowered, and a party pulled
towards it.

As Mr. Woolston approached this as yet strange spot, something in its
outlines recurred to his memory. The boat moved a little further north,
and he beheld a solitary tree. Then a cry escaped him, and the whole of
the terrible truth flashed on his mind. He beheld the summit of the
Peak, and the solitary tree was that which he had himself preserved as a
signal. The remainder of his paradise had sunk beneath the ocean!

On landing, and examining more minutely, this awful catastrophe was
fully confirmed. No part of Vulcan's Peak remained above water b