the cheek of the bravest
man. For there in front was the prau coming rapidly on, full of
bloodthirsty pirates, who had ceased firing as they saw their prey
within their grasp; while behind was the volcano, whose eruption was
minute by minute growing more terrible, and around them the luridly
lit-up waters of the old crater in which they were, boiling up, hissing,
and emitting great puffs of steam, where, as the cutter rocked and
plunged, it seemed to be only a matter of moments before she would be
engulfed--sucked down, as it were, into the awful depths below!

Gregory and Morgan stood ready to hoist the sail, but there was not a
breath of air where the cutter lay. It was one awful calm, with the
glow from the volcano seeming to scorch their cheeks, though high
overhead there was a rushing sound as of a mighty wind setting toward
the burning mountain, which now began to hurl volleys of red-hot stones
through the dense cloud which hung above the top, and reflected the
light far and wide upon the sea.

"Hopeless!" said the captain suddenly. "Arm, major, and let's fight it
out like men! Stop!" he cried; "the boat--the shore!"

"Bah!" ejaculated the major angrily. "Are we fishes, captain, that you
want to send us out of the frying-pan into the fire?"

He pointed to the shore as he spoke, and the captain grasped the horror
of the scene. It would, he knew, be madness to land, for there were
signs of fire now in place after place among the rocks; while before
they could have crowded into the gig and tried to row to sea the Malays
would have been upon them--shut in as they were in the bay, which was
literally a trap.

Just then, too, the water began to heave and toss, huge geyser-like
fountains shot up and fell back with a fearful hissing sound, and, as
the light gig was tossed on high, the madness of attempting to crowd
into her was manifest to all.

The arms were passed round, and every man's eyes glistened in the ruddy
glare as with a furious yelling the prau came on, the water looking like
golden foam on either side, and the glint of spears flashing out from
her crowded bamboo deck.

"Don't fire till you can make sure of your man!" said the major sternly;
and a low murmur arose from the little group behind the cutter's
bulwarks, which told in its fierce intensity that if stubborn
determination could save the helpless women crouching below they had
nought to fear.

The prau was not fifty yards away now, and