ows below water-mark, always suggesting rocks about her keel.

But still with the indomitable energy of Englishmen the long oars were
used, and the little vessel moved forward till they were so near the
point that in another ten minutes the captain felt that they would have
the wind and be able to sail steadily along between the rocks where he
had mapped out and sounded his course.

It was an awful piece of navigation, but he had no fear if they could
only catch the wind.

Still there was that hundred yards to clear; and now, favoured by the
currents that played round the north point, it was evident that at least
one of the praus had cleared it and was coming down upon them straight
for the bay. There was the loud rhythmical yelling of the men shouting
together, and the slow beat of the sweeps as they rowed vigorously;
while the two long oars of the cutter, only intended to help her out of
harbour in a calm, hardly gave her headway.

The glare from the mountain increased so that every object was plainly
seen; and Mark could not help gazing at the wondrous aspect of the
mountain, the top of which emitted a light of dazzling brilliancy, while
a thin streak of red seemed to be stealing in a zigzag fashion from one
side.

Then there was a tremendous burst as if of thunder; a rushing, hissing
noise, as if a shower of stones had been hurled into the sky; and then
all was darkness for a few moments.

"Blown out!" said the major laconically as if he were speaking of a
candle; but the words had hardly left his lips before with a frightful
explosion the mountain blazed forth again, with the glare far more
intense, and showing the prau they had dimly-seen before coming on fast.

"The eruption does not seem to scare them," said the captain.

"Well, it does me," said the major. "It's a kind of warfare I don't
understand." Then in a whisper which Mark heard: "Shall we get round
the point, or must we fight for it?"

"Unless we catch the wind," replied the captain, "they will be down upon
us first; and then--"

"We must fight for it," said the major coolly. "Well, fortunately we
are well prepared. Look here, Strong, you keep on with your navigation
as long as you like, while I have the fighting tools ready. The moment
retreat is useless, say the word and we'll show fight."

Captain Strong gave his hand a grip, and then stood gazing straight
before him perfectly unmoved.

The position was one that would have blanched