n great danger; but I felt
that my father would save our lives."

"That's right," said the major. "Always have faith in your father, my
lad. He's a fine fellow, and if you follow his example you will not go
far wrong. Now, then, I begin to feel much better, and if I could light
my cigar I should feel better still."

"Have you no matches, sir?"

"Yes, my lad, but if they are dry they may be wanted to cook something
if there is anything here to cook, and I mustn't waste them on my
luxuries. I wish I had awakened my Mary, but it's best to let her waken
herself, and if I woke her I should have awakened them all."

"There's Mr Gregory opening his eyes, sir," said Mark eagerly; and he
made a sign to the mate.

Mr Gregory stared hard at him for a few moments before any sign of
comprehension came into his face. It did, however, at last, and he rose
stiffly and stepped ashore.

"Good morning, indeed," he said; "it's more than good, for yesterday I
thought it was good night for all of us. Why don't you light your
cigar, major?"

"Don't tempt me, man, I'm going to practise chewing. Have this other
half. Will you chew it?"

"No," said Mr Gregory, taking out a little silver matchbox; "I've
plenty of lights, quite dry."

He struck one, and the two men lit their half cigars and sat in the sun
smoking, while Mark watched them, the sun begetting a delicious sense of
content and satisfaction, making him half-close his eyes as he listened
to their conversation.

"Where are we, major! Can't exactly say. Small coral island somewhere
near the track of ships to the east."

"It must be a good-sized coral island," said the major, "for there seems
to be quite a mountain yonder."

"Can't be the mainland," said Gregory. "Yes, you're right. That is a
hill of some height, and--why, there are clouds upon it and--why, they
are only half-way up, and there are more on the top."

"Why, Gregory," cried the major, "it's a volcano!"

"No," said the mate; "there is no volcano anywhere near where we can be.
You're right, sir, after all. Well, I'm puzzled; for that's a burning
mountain certainly!"

Mark gazed with wondering eyes at the mountain, to see that the clouds
which he had noticed when he first gazed shoreward were slowly
dissolving away, leaving a line of mist apparently about a thousand feet
above the sea; while above that the mountain was visible running up in a
perfect cone to quite three thousand feet higher, where