own and rest there
as peacefully as the animals by his side, who were sleeping happily
enough and troubling themselves not in the least about darkness or
danger.

All at once, after wondering how long it would be before the party came
from camp, and making up his mind to be very watchful so that they
should not pass him in the darkness, there was a vivid light, which
showed the sand, the glistening sea, and the distant line of breakers
quite plainly, followed at the distance of time of quite a minute by a
low muttering roar which seemed to make the air quiver and the earth
shake.

Then all was black again for a time, during which, with the sensation of
drowsiness which had been slowly coming on completely driven away, Mark
sat and watched for the next flash of lightning, and before long it
came, displaying the shapes of the clouds which overhung the sea.

It was worth watching, for anything more grand could not be conceived.
One moment everything was of a velvety blackness, then in an instant
came the flash, the sky seemed to be opened to display the glories
beyond of golden mountain, vivid blue sea, and lambent yellow plain. In
the twinkling of an eye the sky closed again, and the darkness was more
dense than before, while, as Mark sat thinking of the wonderful contrast
between lying in his bed at home in North London and being there, once
more came the deep, booming, heavy, metallic thunder.

Again a pause, with the three sleepers breathing regularly. Mark was
weary, his legs and back ached, and there was a suggestion of a blister
on one heel; but he felt no inclination now to sleep, and lay there upon
his chest listening for the dull sound of footsteps on the sand in
company with the murmur of voices.

Who would come? he asked himself. Mr Gregory and two men, or Small?
He came to the conclusion that it would be Small, and at times he almost
fancied that he heard the distant murmur of the boatswain's deep rough
voice.

Then came another flash more vivid than ever. And this time it was as
he turned in the direction where Jimpny lay sleeping. The result was
that he saw the poor fellow's swarthy panic-stricken countenance, and
the dog and the monkey snuggled up together as comfortably as they could
make themselves; and they did not even start as a tremendous peal of
thunder broke, seeming as if it would shake the rocks down above their
heads.

Then all was pitchy blackness again, and the silence by contrast