I have. I feel like it. But I didn't
mean to, sir."

"Neither did I mean to," said Mark. "I wonder I did go. How chilly it
is!"

"Yes, sir, like one feels in the early watches. Why, it's quite
to-morrow morning!"

"Or this morning, Billy."

"Yes, sir, that's what I mean. Now, then, what's the first thing, Mr
Mark, sir? What do you say to finding a coky-nut tree? I'll swarm up
and get the nuts."

"Let's start at once, and try to get to camp. That will be better than
cocoa-nuts. Now, then, the sun is rising on our right; then it seems to
me if we keep it there, upon our right, and walk as straight as we can,
we shall hit the shore somewhere near our camp."

"Then you won't look for the Gutty Perchy Road, sir?"

"No, no; they would not have stayed there. We will try and get through
the jungle--we must get through it, Billy, so come along."

"Shall I go first, sir?" said the little sailor.

"No, I'll go first. I wish we had lights to look a little further into
this hole. Why, Billy, the floor's lava!"

"Yes, sir, I thought it was."

"You thought it was what?" cried Mark, staring.

"What you said, sir."

"Never mind, come along," said Mark; and he went to the edge of the cave
and stood looking out like a pigeon in one of the holes of a dove-cot
preparing to take flight.

"See anything, sir?"

"Trees, rocks, sky; nothing more," said Mark; "but the sea must be
straight before us, and it cannot be many miles away."

He turned and began to climb down backwards, and reached the level at
the bottom of the steep scarp, when, looking up, he could not help
smiling at the great care Billy displayed in descending, for he lowered
his short legs over the edge as he held on and began feeling about in a
most absurdly comical manner for the nearest projection which he could
touch.

He was in this position, about fifteen feet above the spot where Mark
waited, when, with a noise that was almost deafening, the frightful roar
which had startled the whole party burst out from just inside the cave
where they had slept.

The sound was so awful in its intensity that Mark shuddered as he stood
there almost petrified, while at the first burst poor Billy Widgeon
loosed his hold and dropped down shrunken up together as if he were
trying to emulate the manner of a hedgehog, and as he fell, he just
touched the ground, sprang up, and began to run.

"Mr Mark, sir, run--run, my lad, run!"

To his credit, be it said,