They hurried to the boat, and the tackles being got ready and the
rollers placed under her keel, they commenced launching her. With four
hands this was a more easy operation than when undertaken only by two.

Scarcely had the after part reached the water than the fearful rumbling
noises increased, and the volcano begun to spout forth its contents, in
a far more terrific manner than had hitherto been witnessed, while the
atmosphere grew lurid with flame. Streams of lava were also seen
descending on every side of the hill.

The crew of the _Janet_ worked with redoubled vigour, and by hauling on
the rope attached to the moorings, she was quickly got afloat. While
her stern still touched the beach, all hands were engaged in lifting on
board the cargo, which, owing to Lord Reginald's forethought, had
previously been arranged, water, fuel, and provisions, and besides other
stores, several of the most useful of the carpenter's tools. Pierre had
ingeniously contrived a cooking stove, which was placed just abaft the
foremast. As the boat was loaded, she was hauled off from the beach.
All the party were on board, with the exception of Lord Reginald, who,
followed by Neptune, ran back to the hut, to ascertain that nothing of
consequence was left behind. He discovered that the compass had been
forgotten. He was just taking it up, and was looking round to see if
there was anything else, when Nep, giving a peculiar bark, pulled his
trousers, and he heard Dick's voice frantically calling upon him to
return. He hurried out, and made towards the boat. As he did so, he
saw that the volcano was in a state of violent eruption. He did not
stop to take a second look, but climbing up over the quarter, and
hauling up Neptune after him, he shouted to Dick to haul off. The
_Janet_ was quickly run out to her moorings. The wind was from the
westward. The warp being hauled in, sail was made, and Robson and
Pierre, getting out the oars, pulled with all their might. They had
good cause for doing so. A vast umbrella-shaped cloud hung over the
mountain, extending on every side, and already ashes had begun to fall
into the water close astern, while as they got further off, they could
see huge stones, sufficient to have sunk the boat, falling into the bay
where they had lately floated. The breeze freshened; still that
threatening cloud grew larger and larger, the sun, which had risen,
appearing like a huge globe of fire through it. They