e could get
a cable out to yon piece of rock and moor her safely."

"Yes," said the mate. "Now, my lads, bear a hand."

All joined in, from the captain to Mark, and in half an hour a cable was
run out of one of the hawse-holes, dragged high up the sands, one end
taken round a huge mass of rock, tied and lashed, and the other end well
stopped in the ship.

"There," said the captain, "that's enough. Now for home. Shall we go
back the same way?"

"Well, the worst that could happen would be that we should have to camp
out," said Gregory; "and as I make it we've one knot to go this way to
two the other."

"If it's an island."

"As I believe it is, sir. What do you say? We must explore it some
time, and if this is the nearest way to fetch cargo we'd better find
it."

"Unless we come and make our home here."

"No, sir. The ladies wouldn't like this black furnace hole of a place.
Let them stop where they are."

"Perhaps you are right, Gregory; but now how to get back? Shall we row
out right round the point?"

"No, sir. I'm thinking there's an opening about a couple of hundred
yards out yonder, and if there's no water perhaps we can get the boat
across."

"Come on, then."

The captain sighed as he gave one more glance round, and ended by
picking up one of the charred handles of the wheel, which he put in his
pocket before returning to the boat.

"There is plenty of powder and shot in the magazine," said the captain,
thankfully; "and we can find no end of useful stuff if we break bulk."

"Ay, we shall manage, sir," said the mate. "Now, my lads, all
together," and the boat was once more run out and rowed to the opening
the mate had seen.

It proved enough for them to pass through with their oars laid in, and
as soon as they were through the change from the brilliant blue water
with the lovely coral and sea growth beneath to this jetty black bay was
quite awe-inspiring.

"The water's clear," said Mark. "What makes it so black?"

"I should say," said the captain, gazing down over the side, "that it is
of almost unfathomable depth."

"And was once a pit of fire," said the mate. "But let's try."

He took one of the fishing-lines, fitted a leaden weight to it, and
lowered it over the side, when it went down and down till the end of the
line was reached. Then another was tied on, and this went down, making
together nearly 200 yards. There was yet another line, and this was
fastened on, another fif