the
north-west so as to prove that this was the reef by finding the opening
which led into Crater Bay.

Sure enough the opening was found, and the boat once more lowered to
investigate and find that the coral-reef still spread out like a
barrier, but the coral insects were dead, and as they investigated
farther it was to find that there was not a single shell-fish of any
kind living in the shoal water, nor any trace of life, but on the
highest part of the bleached white coral there were a few blocks of
blackish-grey vesicular or cindery-looking stone.

"Gone?" said Mark, as he sat in the boat, "you think it's gone?" and he
looked down with a feeling of awe.

"Yes," said the captain; "gone as rapidly as no doubt it once rose from
the sea."

"But where was Crater Bay?"

"Here where you are seated," said the captain. "Shall we try the
depth?"

"No," said Mark with a slight shiver; "it seems too awful. But do you
really feel sure, father, that our wonderfully beautiful island has sunk
down here?"

"I have no doubt of it, my boy," replied the captain. "The eruption was
awful, and the island was literally blown up, and its fragments sank
beneath the waves. What do you say, Gregory?"

"That's it," said the mate.

"And all those lovely palms and ferns, Mark," said Morgan, laying his
hand upon Mark's arm.

"And I used to feel as if I should like to live there always," said Mark
with a sigh. "Let's get back to the ship."

The captain gave another glance round, sweeping the surface of the
lagoon inclosed by the irregular ring of coral, and then gave orders for
their return to the ship.

While the men rowed back Mark tried to picture the scene as it last met
his eyes; but turned from the contemplation with a shudder; and it was
with a sigh of relief that he once more felt the firm planks of the deck
beneath his feet.

"And you mean to tell me," said Billy Widgeon, as he stroked and patted
his monkey's head one evening during the homeward voyage--"you mean to
tell me, Mr Small, as that there island sank outer sight and is all
gone?"

"That's it, Billy," replied the boatswain.

"But it'll come up again, won't it?" said the stowaway.

"That's more than anybody can tell, my lad," said Small. "All I know is
as she's gone, and we're going back home. And a good job too."

Mark Strong heard these words; and as he sat on the deck that night,
beneath the clustering stars, with Bruff's head in his lap, he too be