."

"I can't see it, Ned."

"Why, we've got no guns, nor wallets, nor cartridges to carry, sir. Now
then, will you lead?"

"Yes; be cautious. We don't know but what some of the blacks may be
near."

"That's true, sir. First thing I s'pose is to get what old Lenny calls
our bearings."

"Yes; we must find out where we face," said Jack, and he advanced
cautiously to the cavern's entrance, and began to peer round warily for
danger.

But there was no sign of any. They were very high up, the morning was
clear, the sun was gilding the vapours which rose from the rifts and
valleys, and the sea glittered gloriously. Far below they obtained
glimpses of the reef with its fringe of foam; but not a murmur of the
beating waves reached them, while overhead, partially hidden in clouds,
the crater of the volcano showed some of its craggy slopes, and the
forest beneath seemed to be less dense.

"I can't make out where we are, Ned," said Jack at last. "Yes, I can;
we have worked round more to the south, and must have done nothing but
get farther and farther away from the yacht."

"Think so, sir? Let's see; we anchored east side first, then we went
round and anchored west, and you say we've been travelling south. Well,
I dare say you're right, and that means we must keep to the west again.
Why, those black fellows must have taken us out of that little valley
and put us in another one. I must say it's rather puzzling, sir. But
you lead, and I'll follow, for it's of no use for me to pretend to be
able to steer."

Jack made no reply, but stood looking downward, seeing nothing of the
glorious prospect below, his mind being taken up with thoughts of trying
to hit the head of the ravine up which they had travelled, for he knew
the difficulties attendant upon going down another, to be led right to
the edge of the lagoon, with the puzzle before him of not knowing
whether to travel to right or left.

"There's that flock of shriekers coming along below there, Mr Jack,
sir," said the man, breaking in upon the lad's reverie. "No, it ain't:
it's pigs. I can see 'em, sir; there they go. My word, I wish I had a
gun, and they came within reach; I'd have a shot at one of 'em, and
before long it would be roast pork for breakfast. See 'em, sir? There
they go."

They were plain enough to see at times, a drove of twenty or so, of all
sizes, down to quite small porkers, as they raced along over the open
patches, and then disappear