e their heads.

"A bad storm coming," said Mark, "but it may not break till we get to
the bay."

Judging from appearances, however, it was likely to pour out its waters
upon them at any moment; while, to add to their excitement, from over
the jungle there were deep thunderous noises as if the storm were raging
right in the interior.

The journey seemed interminable, but in spite of the thunder and coming
darkness they toiled on, keeping a sharp look-out over the lagoon lest
those they sought should have been in the gloom.

By degrees, though, the obscurity grew less, and seemed to be slowly
floating in the direction of the praus. Once there was the wave-like
motion of the earth again, making them catch at each other to keep
themselves from falling, and then the sun appeared, growing momentarily
more bright as it passed out from behind the dense black cloud which was
gathered about the mountain, rolling along its flanks as they came to an
opening in the jungle, and then appearing to circle slowly round and
round.

The hours crept by as they toiled on exerting themselves to the utmost,
for one of the dreads that oppressed them, now that they were out of
sight of the praus, was that they would not get to Crater Bay before
their friends started to go round the other way, though, saving on their
own account, there was a certain hopefulness about their position, since
the last they had seen of the praus showed them that they were coming
their way, and therefore they might not see the gig and its occupants
after all.

There was no fear of the captain passing the fugitives now, for as
evening approached the lagoon was perfectly clear and the sky of a
dazzling blue, but there seemed to be no end to the weary tramp over the
hot sands, and at last Mary looked so exhausted that they were obliged
to take shelter under a tree at the edge of the jungle.

"How much farther is it, Mark?" said Mrs Strong.

"About six miles," he replied. "Look here, Jimpny, we must wait here
now. You go on and warn my father, and they'll come back with the
boat."

"I shall be better soon," said Mary; but there was such a look of
exhaustion in her eyes that Mark knew she would not be able to proceed,
and he signed to the man to go on.

The stowaway looked at him blankly, and he repeated his orders.

"Yes, I see," said the man, staring stupidly, as if he were in a dream;
and starting off, he went on a dozen yards, and then reeled, threw up