ed. "Let their
proper crews attend to them; the rest of you assist the marines in
bringing down the provisions and water."

It should have been said that, under the direction of the pay-master and
his assistants, all the casks had been filled with water, and all the
provisions done up in packages, which could be easily transported.

Even at that moment perfect discipline prevailed; the men hurried
backwards and forwards, it is true, as fast as their legs could carry
them. They worked like a colony of ants, knowing exactly what they had
to do. The midshipmen were ordered into the boats with their respective
crews to stow the packages, and to keep the rafts off the beach. These
were next loaded, and the boats being filled, the men were ordered to
take their places on the rafts.

Captain Adair and Lord Saint Maur stood alone on the shore, when the
sound of a gun was heard.

"I forgot Roy and the men with him," exclaimed Adair.

"I'll go for him," cried Desmond, and before he could be stopped, he
darted off.

Adair now ordered the boats to take the rafts in tow, and to proceed
over the bar, as it would be impossible to find a more favourable
opportunity for crossing it. One boat--his own gig--with four hands in
her, only remained, so that she was able to carry, in addition, Roy and
his party.

Again the sound of the gun was heard, followed by a third report. All
this time the cliffs above the further end of the harbour appeared
crumbling away, while the ground where the marines' huts stood, as well
as beyond them, was heaving in visible undulations. Adair felt that at
any moment the whole island might be convulsed in such a way as to
destroy all remaining on it. He anxiously looked out for the return of
Saint Maur and Roy. The movements increased in violence. He saw the
men in the boat turning their eyes towards the cliff, as if they were
eager to be away, fearing lest they themselves would be involved in the
expected destruction of the island. He drew his breath more freely when
at length he saw Saint Maur appear on the top of the path leading from
the hill, followed by Roy and his men. Down they rushed at headlong
speed. They had not a moment to lose; already huge rents appeared in
the ground, some of a width across which it seemed scarcely possible
they could leap, while the rocks on either side were tumbling and
leaping along, and threatening to crush the party as they made their
downward way.

A