s disagreeable. Earth tremors also warned me that the
crust here was thin, and therefore dangerous. The mountain seemed on
the verge of eruption, and I wondered that no alarm for the safety of
the town built at the foot of it had been shown by Melannie and her
people. But I remembered that volcanoes, like all great works of
Nature, measure time by the lapse of ages, and that a thousand years
will often pass between the convulsions of the internal fires which
find an outlet through the earth's craters. The smoke and heat of the
mountain, however, reminded me of my tinder-box, and I gathered some
flints, of which there were a number lying round, before returning to
my dwelling in the native town. I had kept my ability to make fire, so
far, secret, but if my life was threatened I resolved to kindle a
conflagration that would sweep the island.

When the queen and her followers returned from the place of execution
Melannie sent for me.

"Have a care, Peter," she said. "We are ruled here by customs which may
not be changed. Already Ackbau is jealous of the favour I have shown
you. To go upon the mountain, which is forbidden country, may be made
an argument in favour of thy death, from which even I cannot save you."

I pleaded an excuse for infringing the taboo, but Melannie shook her
head. Then she embraced me and begged me to forgive her ill-humour.

"You will not leave me, Peter," she pleaded. "You are strong--stronger
than Ackbau, and will protect me from him."

"But you are queen, are you not?" I answered.

"Yes, I am queen," replied Melannie, "but I do not love my people as I
should do. I wish they would make Ackbau king, so that I might be free
as others are."

She tried to embrace me, but I disengaged myself from her. I could not
take her to my heart, coming, as she did, a willing spectator from the
place of sacrifice.

CHAPTER XIX

I BECOME CHIEF COOK

I now resolved to introduce the cooking of food upon the island. From
the fish and clams which the natives offered me in their raw state I
turned in disgust, but I reflected that, cooked, they would make
excellent eating. I was tired of fruit, and craved a more substantial
diet. How long I might be compelled to remain upon this island I knew
not. Perhaps I was destined to spend the rest of my life upon it. Why,
then, should I be deprived of the luxury of cooking my food, when, with
my flint and steel, I possessed the means of making a fire?

When I