ubstances were also thrown up, and their
splashes could be heard as they fell into the water, though they
themselves were invisible.

Lord Reginald steered to the northward, in order that they might as soon
as possible get away from the dangerous neighbourhood, but it was some
time before they were free of the ashes and once more had the bright sun
shining down upon them.

They looked anxiously towards the island, and were thankful to observe
that a large portion to the eastward was bright and fair, showing that
it had not suffered materially from the eruption. It might, however,
only be the commencement of a still more serious outbreak, and they were
thankful that they had their vessel ready, in case it should become
necessary to escape for their lives. As they opened up the eastern side
of the hill, they saw the trees which had hitherto escaped, burning
furiously, surrounded by the hot lava. They had too much reason to fear
that the conflagration might extend still further, and destroy the whole
of the remaining vegetation, though it was possible that the stream
would stop its progress, and that the part of the island on which they
had been living might be spared. Dick now set to work to get rid of the
ashes which covered the boat. It was no easy task. He had only a piece
of board to serve as a shovel, and a handful of oakum. He cleared the
decks and water-ways and thwarts, but he found it impossible to get them
out of the bottom of the boat.

"Never mind," said Lord Reginald, "it will serve instead of a coat of
paint."

"She will look very like a coal barge," answered Dick, who was vain of
the hitherto clean appearance of their craft.

The wind continued very light, and it was some time before they reached
the eastern end of the island, which they calculated was at the utmost
ten miles long and five or six broad. They looked out narrowly for any
small harbour into which they might run, should the wind come from the
southward, and blow into their bay.

With the risk of another eruption of the volcano, it was important to be
able to start at a moment's notice. Should the wind blow into the bay,
it might be impossible to launch the _Janet_. At the very eastern end
they came off an opening with a reef running out to a considerable
distance on the southern side. It had the appearance of just the sort
of harbour they required, but as Dick had not visited it, he could not
tell whether there would be space