e land will remain
quiet until that task is accomplished. Lord Saint Maur and I will
accompany you to inspect the new vent-hole and the other phenomena you
speak of; and although we would not pit our scientific knowledge against
yours, yet perhaps we may make some discovery which may allay your
apprehensions."

They set out at once, as there was still sufficient daylight to enable
them to reach the spot to which the doctor had alluded. Adair, after
making a considerable circuit, during which they discovered several
spots so hot that they could scarcely touch them with their hands,
thought that possibly the doctor might be correct. All that he could
do, however, was to make arrangements to afford the chance of escape to
portion of his people, should the island be overwhelmed.

He resolved to have all the boats fitted for sea with stores, water, and
provisions. The whole of the community had turned in for the night with
the exception of the sentries, who were told off to keep watch according
to man-of-war fashion, although there was no enemy likely to attack
them, when they were roused by the well-known sound of a furious gale
blowing on the shore. It came on as suddenly as a clap of thunder, and
ere long the breakers could be heard roaring as they dashed against the
rocky coast. Already the wind had lashed the surface of the harbour
into foam, and the water rushed up the beach, threatening to carry off
the boats, the largest of which were moored a short distance off, while
the others were hauled up on the sand.

The captain and officers were the first to be aroused by the sound of
the gale. They hurried out, and turned up all hands to secure the
boats. This was no easy matter, for two had already broken adrift, and
it was necessary at all risks to go off after them. They, however, were
brought back before the full fury of the hurricane burst on the island.
They were at length hauled up on the beach by means of rollers placed
under them and the strength of fifty hands at least applied to each.
The sea continued to rise, and it became necessary to drag them still
further up out of the danger of being washed away. Even in the harbour
so enormous were the waves that they washed right up to the huts,
threatening to destroy the whole lower part of the town, the inmates of
which were compelled to carry off their goods and chattels higher up the
rock. The largest of the boats still remained on the beach, and the
me