ed at a touch.

Everything pointed to the truth of the stowaway's story, for as they
stood in the bows there was a portion of the deck almost untouched, and
the remains of a stay-sail furled up and only burned through. There
could be no doubt that the fire was blazing furiously, had burned all
the boats, and was eating its way down toward the cargo and stores when
the tropic downpour came and extinguished it before greater mischief was
done; for though the vessel had become a complete hulk there was one
fact perfectly evident, and that was that they had only to descend below
to find in the hold and stores a perfect mint of useful treasure for
people in their condition.

"Yes," said Gregory, as if someone had just spoken these words to him,
"we can get enough out of her to live on for a couple of years, and
stuff sufficient to set-to and build a little schooner or smack big
enough to take us to Singapore."

"I was thinking precisely the same," said the captain eagerly, while
Mark said nothing, for with the ship's stores and treasures to work upon
it seemed as if they could make themselves very happy in such a glorious
place. With a comfortable home, plenty of fruit and birds, and their
friends about them, life on the island would be a very happy one, so it
seemed to him, and he felt a kind of wonder that there should be a
difference of opinion. But then there was the volcano and the
earthquake!

They were now picking their way aft, and here the destruction was
greater. In one place it was perfectly plain that the powder-keg must
have stood, for coamings, bulwarks, skylights, everything had been swept
clear off at the time the explosion occurred, while as they reached the
saloon entry it was to find only its place, for here the fire had been
raging furiously, the poop-deck and the cabins on either side of the
saloon being burned completely away.

"Well," said the captain, after a long inspection, "we've found the poor
old girl, Gregory, and she's past mending."

"Yes," said Gregory with a short sharp nod of the head.

"But she will be a treasure-house for us, and some of her cargo may be
saved, so we must make her fast."

"Not much fear of her breaking away," said the mate; "she's well wedged
in these sands, and it strikes me--yes, it is so, that big wave to-day
gave her a lift up and drove her farther ashore. No tide would ever
float her off."

"No," said the captain, "but all the same let's make sure. W