the dismembered cradle still floated huddled
together like a raft, close to the landing.

"Now," said Lance to Captain Staunton, as soon as they were fairly
outside of the harbour, "_we are free, thank God_! and, as there seems
to be no immediate prospect of your further needing my help, I will go
and look after the wounded and the ladies. Poor souls! what a fearful
time of suspense and terror they must have passed, pent up there in the
cabin, listening to all these fearful sounds, and not knowing what it
means or what will be the end of it."

Lance accordingly descended, to find the ladies pale as death, and their
eyes dilated with fear, resolutely doing their best with the aid of the
steward to assuage the agonies of the wounded. He was, of course, at
once assailed with a hundred questions, to which, however, he put a stop
by holding up his hand and laughingly saying--

"Pray, spare me, and show me a little mercy, I beseech you; to answer
all your questions would occupy me for the remainder of the night. Be
satisfied, therefore, for the present with the general statement that we
have successfully launched the schooner--as doubtless you have long ago
found out for yourselves; that there has been a terrible earthquake,
accompanied by a volcanic eruption which bids fair to completely destroy
the island; that we are now in the open ocean, having made good our
escape, and that there is at present nothing more to fear. Where is
May?"

"She is asleep in that berth," answered Mrs Staunton, "so I hope the
worst of the poor child's pain is over."

"No doubt of it," answered Lance; "the fact that she is sleeping is in
itself a sufficient indication of that. And now, let me first thank you
for your care of my patients here--to whom I will now myself attend--and
next order you all three peremptorily off to bed. Away with you at once
to the most comfortable quarters you can find, and try to get a good
night's rest."

Utterly worn out, the ladies were only too glad to obey this order; and
they accordingly forthwith retired to the cabins which the steward had
already prepared for them.

The more severely wounded were then speedily attended to, their injuries
carefully dressed, and themselves comfortably bestowed in their
hammocks; after which came the turn of the others.

By the time that Lance had fully completed his arduous task the first
faint streaks of dawn were lighting up the eastern horizon; and he went
on dec