n the remains of such an animal, and hooking
it with its flukes thus unexpectedly brought once more to the light of
day, the remains of a creature that may have been on the very summit of
the island, when the earthquake in which it was swallowed, occurred.

The Rancocus next shaped her course in the direction of the group.
Soundings were struck near the western roads, and it was easy enough to
carry the vessel towards what had formerly been the centre of those
pleasant isles. The lead was kept going, and a good look-out was had for
shoals; for, by this time, Mr. Woolston was satisfied that the greatest
changes had occurred at the southward, as in the former convulsion, the
group having sunk but a trifle compared with the Peak; nevertheless,
every person, as well as thing, would seem to have been engulfed.
Towards evening, however, as the ship was feeling her way to windward
with great caution, and when the ex-governor believed himself to be at
no great distance from the centre of the group, the look-outs proclaimed
shoal-water, and even small breakers, about half a mile on their
larboard beam. The vessel was hove-to, and a boat went to examine the
place, Woolston and his friend Betts going in her.

The shoal was made by the summit of the crater; breakers appearing in
one or two places where the hill had been highest. The boat met with no
difficulty, however, in passing over the spot, merely avoiding the white
water. When the lead was dropped into the centre of the crater, it took
out just twenty fathoms of line. That distance, then, below the surface
of the sea, had the crater, and its town, and its people sunk! If any
object had floated, as many must have done, it had long before drifted
off in the currents of the ocean, leaving no traces behind to mark a
place that had so lately been tenanted by human beings. The Rancocus
anchored in twenty-three fathoms, it being thought she lay nearly over
the Colony House, and for eight-and-forty hours the exploration was
continued. The sites of many a familiar spot were ascertained, but
nothing could be found on which even a spar might be anchored, to buoy
out a lost community.

At the end of the time mentioned, the ship bore up for Betto's group.
There young Ooroony was found, peacefully ruling as of old. Nothing was
known of the fate of the colonists, though surprise had been felt at not
receiving any visits from their vessels. The intercourse had not been
great of late, and m