ue enough as to the calm, for just before
daylight the intense blackness which had covered the heavens passed
away, leaving the stars glittering with a most wondrous brilliancy;
there was a deep murmur dying away in the distance, and, utterly
exhausted, Jack laid himself down on one of the cabin lounges, to drop
off into the deep sleep of utter exhaustion, one from which he awoke to
find the warm glow of evening shining in at the open window, and his
father watching him with an anxious expression upon his face.

Captain Bradleigh was quite right. The hurricane had passed, and the
aspect of the island from where Jack stood with his glass on deck,
sweeping the mountain slopes, in places a terrible wreck. The hollows
and deep ravines had naturally escaped, but the higher portions, even on
that side, were swept bare, and every now and then the lad gazed through
his binocular at piled-up masses of tangled bough and branch shattered
and splintered as if they had been straws.

"Yes, my lad, it looks a terrible ruin here and there," said the
captain, as Jack handed him the glass to try; "but changes take place
quickly out here, and the sun's hard at work already repairing damages.
Those heaps will soon rot away, and fresh growth cover the bare patches.
It's bad enough, but an eruption from the mountain there would have
done more mischief than this."

Over a late meal there was a discussion about their future proceedings,
and the elders went into the pros and cons of their position.

"You could find us another island, captain, couldn't you?" said Sir
John.

"Oh yes, sir; several that I dare say would answer your purpose, but I'm
afraid that we shall have the native difficulty go where we may, for
these sanguinary blacks are a restless lot, and wherever there is a
beautiful spot they generally take possession of it."

"Of course," said the doctor gruffly. "We should do the same."

"We have done the same all the world round," said Sir John, laughing.

"Of course. `It is their nature to,'" quoted the doctor. "For my part
it seems a sin to go away when we have not secured half the grand
specimens of birds to be found."

"And my cases of insects not half filled," said Sir John.

"But after his rough experience," said the captain dryly, "I cannot
wonder at Mr Jack here feeling anxious to be homeward bound."

"I?" cried Jack, turning upon the captain excitedly. "I anxious to go
back? Why, what made you think that, Ca