howed that he was as anxious as they were to escape.

"You are right, my friend," said Lord Reginald, looking up at the
mountain. "We have a disagreeable neighbour up there, and it will be
wise to get as far away from him as we can. Whatever happens, we may
hope to be safe at the other end of the island."

As no time was to be lost, they returned along the valley by the way
they had come, glancing back every now and then to ascertain the state
of the volcano. It was still throwing up volumes of smoke and flame,
but no stones or ashes fell where they were. At any moment, however,
should the wind change, they might be carried in their direction. The
two strangers were much alarmed, and had their strength been greater
would have hurried on faster. Lord Reginald kindly took Robson's arm to
help him along, while Dick supported the Frenchman. Robson was much
relieved on hearing that his preservers had a boat to carry them away
from the island.

"I only hope, sir, that the mountain won't get worse until the weather
moderates, and we are able to put to sea," he observed.

"We are pretty well accustomed to it now," said Lord Reginald, "and I
hope that we shall run into no real danger. We shall be glad, I own, to
get off, if we can find our way to Batavia or any other place in the
hands of the British."

"I have been cruising in these seas for some years, and though the
Frenchmen didn't let us know whereabouts we were, if I could once get
sight of Bali or Lombok, or for that matter any of the islands to the
eastward of Java, I should soon find my way," answered Robson.

"One thing is certain, that we must steer to the northward to get into
the Java sea, and as we have a compass we shall have no difficulty in
doing that," said Lord Reginald.

"Then, sir, I hope you'll put off without delay. I don't like the looks
of that mountain blazing away there," exclaimed Robson, casting an
alarmed glance over his shoulder.

"We will not stay longer than is necessary," said Lord Reginald. "We
are thankful that we did not sail yesterday, or our craft would have
been lost to a certainty."

The mate, before entering the hut, was anxious to see the boat, and Lord
Reginald and Dick, with some little pride, led the strangers up to her.
The mate opened his eyes.

"You are right, sir, in being thankful that you were not at sea last
night," he observed. "She may do very well in smooth water, but in a
sea way she would prove a cu