ht design some plan for
extracting the juice and turning it into sugar. He was about to set off
with his burden--a pretty heavy one--when to his astonishment, and no
small dismay, he felt the ground shake beneath his feet. This unusual
circumstance was followed almost immediately afterwards by a deep hollow
sound, and on looking up, he saw, in the direction of the cave dense
masses of smoke issuing forth, followed by lurid flames, while several
streams of lava began to flow down the hill. As the lava, however, took
a course towards the sea, in an opposite direction to where he was
standing, he watched for some moments the eruption, instead, as some
people might have done, throwing down his load and running away from the
neighbourhood. Satisfied, at length, that it was not increasing, he
turned his steps homewards. He found Lord Reginald, who had felt the
earthquake, and had been watching the volcano in activity, very anxious
about him.

"I am thankful to see you back, Hargrave," he said. "Though no harm has
happened, one thing is certain, that it will be wise in us to try and
get our boat finished as soon as possible, so that, should the hill have
another blow up, we may make our escape."

"I hope that matters will not come to such a pitch as to drive us off
the island," answered Dick; "but if you are well enough to-morrow, we
will begin work in earnest."

"I am well enough to begin it at once," was the answer. "What have you
got there?"

Dick showed the contents of his sack.

"Coffee berries, to a certainty," said Lord Reginald, tasting one of
them. "All we have now to do is to roast and grind them. I am capable
of doing that, at all events, and now let me taste one of those canes?
Sugar, no doubt of it. Why, if that burning mountain doesn't drive us
away, we may live on here in luxury for months to come."

"I shall be glad enough to remain, and never was so happy in my life,"
answered Dick, who spoke from his heart. "I am very glad to hear it,
Hargrave. I may say the same for myself, and I really think that I
shall be sorry when the life we are now leading comes to an end."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

PROGRESS IN BOAT-BUILDING--HOT POKERS--SYSTEM IN WORKING--FIXING ON THE
KEEL--DICK AND HIS PIGS--FINISHING THE BOAT--THE ONLY REGRET--PREPARING
FOR THE TRIAL TRIP--THE LAUNCH--ONCE MORE AFLOAT--ASPECT OF THE ISLAND--
THE VOLCANO--CLEANING DECKS--A STRANGE SAIL--RUNNING FOR THE
BAY--"WHAT'S TO BE DONE?"--