uld get right round and prove that this is an island," said
the major; "but we must not attempt it to-day. Are these cocoa-nut
palms never coming to an end?"

"Let's go through them, and try to reach the foot of the mountain," said
Mark at last. "I want to get a supply of something to eat, but I should
like to see the mountain close to."

"And go up it and peep in at the crater, eh?"

"Indeed I should, sir."

"Ah, well! we'll see about that; but work first, Mark. We must get a
load of birds or a pig."

"Think there are pigs, sir?"

"Can't say. I haven't seen a sign of one yet. If it is a part of some
great island we may find deer."

They tramped on, hoping to find a stream, but another two miles were
traversed before they came upon a rushing rivulet, gurgling down from
among piled-up masses of blackish vesicular rock, which the major at
once dubbed scoria.

"Now for a good drink," he said. "I'm thirsty;" and they both lay down
to drink from a pool of the loveliest nature, so clear was the water, so
beautiful the ferns and other growth that overhung.

But at the first mouthful both rose, spitting it out, and ready to
express their disgust.

"Why, it's bitter, and salt, and physicky as a mineral spring," said the
major.

"And it's quite hot," said Mark. "Ugh! what stuff!"

It was disappointing, for they were both suffering from thirst; but it
was evident that to penetrate the jungle from where they stood would be
next to impossible, so craggy and rocky was the ground, while, as after
struggling on for about a couple of hundred yards, they found the water
grown already so hot that it was almost too much for their hands, they
concluded that if they persevered they would find it boiling--an
interesting fact for a student of the wonders of nature, but an
unsatisfactory matter for a thirsty man.

"What a place for a botanist!" cried the major. "We could fill our bags
with wonders; but a good patch of Indian corn would be the greatest
discovery we could find now, for, Mark, my lad, we shall find that we
want flour in some form."

"Is Indian corn likely to grow here?"

"If some kind friend who has visited this shore has been good enough to
plant some--not without."

They stood gazing for a few minutes at the wondrously fertile growth of
the plants whose roots found their way to the warm stream, and whose
leaves received the steamy moisture, and then climbed slowly back.

"We must explore inland som