any
islands they might visit who the strangers were, and also to assist in
discovering the small coral island where the solitary white man had been
seen. Captain Blount gladly accepted the offer.

"Tell my friends," said Mark, "that we have begun the work, but some
years may pass away before all the inhabitants of even this small island
understand the Glad Tidings, which they at present appear to receive so
readily. When the work is accomplished, then I may return home."

Charley found that Mark, who was thus ready to devote himself to the
work of the Gospel, was the son of a powerful chief or prince, and that
he had thus literally given up much and all for its sake.

Both officers and men of the _Good Hope_ had enough to do in keeping a
proper look-out ahead for the numerous dangers in their course. Those
who have only sailed in seas navigated for centuries with excellent
charts of every rock, shoal, and current, are scarcely aware of the
anxiety those experience who have to sail across an unknown ocean where
numberless small islands exist, and reefs, some under the water and some
just above it, on which the incautious voyager may run his ship and lose
her, with little or no warning. At night, except when there was a moon,
the schooner was hove-to, lest she should run on a reef, or past Jack's
supposed island. The native, who said that his name was Peter, was as
eager as any one, and was constantly aloft looking out for it.

Such an island as it was described might very easily be passed by
without being observed. Charley, Elton, Owen, or Peter was therefore
always on the look-out, for they would not trust one of the crew. Their
difficulty was increased by a foul wind which sprung up from the
westward, and compelled them to tack across their course. This greatly
increased the distance they had to go over, and completely baffled
Peter's calculations.

One night, having stood farther than before to the northward, a bright
light was seen in the distance, which was pronounced by all on board to
be a ship on fire. Sad must be the fate of all on board if no
assistance arrived! Making all sail, they stood towards the spot. The
red glare increased, the reflection extending over the whole sky. While
they looked, expecting every instant to see the supposed ship blow up or
the light suddenly cease by her sinking, Charley exclaimed that it was a
burning mountain. His companions doubted the fact. Still they thought