ny clothes."

"It's volcanic steam, Jem. Comes out of the earth."

"Get along with you, Mas' Don. Don't get spinning yarns."

"I'm telling you the truth, Jem."

"Are you, sir? Well, p'r'aps it's what you think is the truth, I say,
arn't it lovely out here? How I should like to have a cottage just on
that there point, and my Sally to keep it tidy. Hullo! What's up?"

The boatswain's shrill pipe was heard just then, and a boat's crew was
summoned to take an exploring party ashore.

To Don's great delight, he and Jem formed part of the boat's crew; and
at last he felt that he was to see something of the beautiful place,
which grew more attractive every time he scanned the coast.

This time the captain was going to land; and, as the men were provided
with axes, it seemed that they were about to make their way into the
woods.

The natives had been most friendly, bringing off and receiving presents;
but, all the same, no precautions were omitted to provide for the safety
of the ship and crew.

It was a glorious morning, with hardly a breath of wind stirring, and
the savages were lolling about on the shore. Their canoes were run up
on the sands, and there was an aspect of calm and repose everywhere that
seemed delightful.

But the boat's crew had little time given them for thinking. The
captain and a midshipman of about Don's age took their places in the
stern sheets, Bosun Jones seized the tiller, the word was given, the
oars splashed the water simultaneously, and the boat sped over the calm
surface of the transparent sea, sending the shoals of fish darting away.

The boat's head was set in quite a fresh direction, and she was run
ashore a little way from the mouth of a rushing river, whose waters came
foaming down through blocks of pumice and black masses of volcanic
stone.

As the boat's head touched the shore, the men leaped over right and
left, and dragged her a short distance up the black glistening heavy
sand, so that the captain could land dry-shod.

Then preparations were made, arms charged, and Bosun Jones gave Don a
friendly nod before turning to the captain.

"Will you have this lad, sir, to carry a spare gun for you?"

"Yes," said the captain; "a good plan;" and Don's eyes sparkled. "No,"
said the captain the next moment; "he is only a boy, and the walking
will be too hard for him. Let him and another stay with the boat."

Don's brow clouded over with disappointment, but it cleared a l