minds to get
back to the yacht to-day."

"That's it, sir; but if you see me run mad-like, and go off with my
spear, you come and help me, for it means pig."

They started once more, following the course of the lava-stream, with
its steady ascent, and at every turn Jack looked back longingly, feeling
as he did that they were going away, but knowing that the longest might
prove in the end the shortest road. They kept on, waiting for the time
when they found that the great flow of fiery molten stone had
encountered an inequality which had made it divide into two streams, the
further of which might lead them down to the sands somewhere far from
the yacht.

But mid-day with its burning sun had come, and the intense heat
compelled them to stop and rest beneath a clump of trees, which struck
them both as being more dwarfed in appearance, though their growth was
luxuriant and beautiful. The forest, too, had become more open, there
were glades here and there, and it was possible, if they had been so
disposed, to have left the stony road and threaded their way among the
bushes.

"Why, if we are forced to keep on like this much longer, Ned, we shall
reach the crater."

"Well, why not do it, sir? Once up there we can look all over the
island, and choose our way down straight to the yacht."

"I should like to do it now we are so high," said Jack; "but we must
only think of getting back."

"And getting our suppers, sir," whispered Ned, as he pointed toward a
rocky ridge high up above the lava-stream to the left, where seen
against the sky-line, as they browsed on the herbage among the rocks,
there was a group of about half-a-dozen goats, two of which were
evidently kids, while one was a patriarch with enormous curved horns.

"Now, Mr Jack," whispered Ned; "we had some practice with our bows and
arrows yesterday; this time we must do it at any cost."

"Yes, Ned," whispered back the lad excitedly. "It may mean the strength
to escape."

The next minute, bow and arrow in one hand, spear in the other, they
were carefully stalking the herd by creeping upward among the trees and
blocks of tumbled-together volcanic stone, which gave them the
opportunity of climbing up within easy shot unseen.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

IN SPITE OF ALL.

They were too close to the goats to venture upon much whispering, and
the decision was soon arrived at that they were to divide, and each make
the best of his way up the ridge till there