er that this island, like others in the neighbourhood, is not
inhabited." The thought then occurred to him that the volcano had
either driven the natives away, or prevented them from occupying it,
although the fertility of the valley through which he was walking showed
that it was capable of supporting a tolerably numerous population.

He went on and on, interested in the objects he saw, and almost
forgetting his fatigue, being able occasionally to quench his thirst at
the stream along the banks of which he made his way. He cast a longing
eye at several fruits hanging from the boughs of trees of the palm
species, but they were all beyond his reach, and no way occurred to him
of getting at them. The chief inconvenience he suffered was from the
want of a hat, as the sun beat down with intense force on his head, but
although he had seen Richard Hargrave wearing one, it did not occur to
him that he might manufacture a similar protection. He at length
remembered his white handkerchief, which he tied round his head, placing
several layers of leaves beneath it, to add to its thickness. This
somewhat relieved him, but did not shelter his eyes and face. At last
he reached a hill of slight elevation, to the top of which he climbed.
It overlooked a small picturesque bay. On the nearest point was a large
mass of wreck, apparently the bows of the ship, which, when she parted,
had been driven there by the current and the fury of the hurricane.

On one side, though at no great distance from the shore, was a neat hut,
at which a person was working, whom he felt sure was Richard Hargrave.
Neptune, on seeing him, bounded off without asking his master's leave,
and Lord Reginald, to his intense disgust, saw the dog rush up and lick
the hand of his rival, who patted him, then going into the hut, quickly
came out with some pieces of meat, which he gave to the dog.

The sight exasperated the young lord, so that, not considering the folly
of what he was about, hurrying down the hill, he made his way towards
Dick.

The latter, who had mounted a ladder to continue his work, turning his
head, saw him coming, and descended to meet him.

"You scoundrel!" exclaimed the young lord, his features distorted with
anger. "You are trying to entice my dog from me by giving him food,
which you might at all events have had the grace to offer to me, your
officer."

"I have no wish to entice your dog from you!" answered Dick; "and I
would advise y