s to avoid the forest, and as
soon as we get a little farther round they will begin to descend on the
other side."

Jack's idea proved to be correct, for upon reaching a spot where nothing
but a friable slope of fine ashes kept them from the summit, the leader
suddenly leaped down into a hollow which was scored into the mountain
side, and began to descend, followed by the rest.

"Due west," said Jack thoughtfully. "Why, Ned, we shall reach the shore
far from where we left the yacht."

"If it goes straight down, sir; but is it west?"

"Yes, we are going straight for the sun now, and this gash in the
mountain grows deeper. Look."

"Yes, that's right, sir; but I do wish we could get to some water now.
It's a dry journey from here to the shore, and you're beginning to be
done up."

"Yes, Ned," said Jack wearily; "I am beginning to be done up now."

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

RUNNING THE REEF.

The whole of that journey down the rugged gash in the mountain side was
a prolonged agony to Jack, but he fought like a hero to keep his feet,
and at last, satisfied that he could not escape, the man who had
surprised him and treated him as his own prize caught him by the
shoulder as he was tottering down the descent, with the stones every
here and there giving way beneath his feet, and about to fall heavily.
The next minute his numbed and swollen hands were set at liberty, so
that he could better preserve his balance, and the first use he made of
them was to point to Ned's bonds, with the result that the man's captor
entered into a short colloquy with Jack's; and the savage fitted an
arrow to his bow and took aim, half drawing the arrow to the head, while
he jabbered away and scowled menacingly, showing his white teeth the
while.

"What does he mean by that, Mr Jack? going to shoot me--a coward?"

"No, no; he means he will untie your hands, but that if you attempt to
escape an arrow will go faster than you can run, and he will bring you
down."

"And very kind of him too, sir. But I shan't run away without you, sir.
Here, undo 'em then, blackie."

He bent forward so as to raise his tied hands, and the black began to
unfasten the cane.

"I always knew you were a big scholar, Mr Jack, sir," continued Ned,
"but I didn't think you were up to this jibber-jabber.--Thankye, old
chap. Nice state you've got my hands in though. Why, I don't believe
the size gloves I should want are made. Look, Mr Jack, about
four-and-twe