e set a couple of hours ago."

"Of course," said Brace, "and that can't be the east. I should say it's
the west."

"What, where that--I say, what light is that over there?"

"Yes, what can it be?" said Brace, as he gazed at the soft glow. "It
can't be a forest fire."

"No: if it were we should see clouds of smoke between us and the stars,
and they're clear right down to the top of the mountain. Why, Brace,
there must be a volcano here, and that's the reflection from the glowing
lava. I've seen something like that in the Sandwich Islands."

"I'll go and tell my brother," said Brace. "No; perhaps he's asleep,
and it would be awkward for him to get up here in the dark."

"And you couldn't get him up in time," said Lynton. "Look: it's dying
out fast. There: it's gone now."

"Yes," said Brace, in a very low whisper. "How strange!"

"Sort of afterglow," muttered Briscoe; "only it's a long time after the
sunset. Well, gentlemen, I'm for bed. The scene is over and the lights
are out. What do you say?"

Brace said nothing, but he followed his companion into the cave and
sleep came soon after--the sound, easy sleep enjoyed in the open air,
for the night breeze played softly in at the open mouth of the cave, and
there was nothing to disturb the party till the fire began to crackle
soon after daybreak.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

THE STRANGE FIND.

Saving the canoe that they had seen, the events of the night were pretty
well forgotten when a fresh start was made, for all were anxious to
explore the great canon and make a wider acquaintance with the beauties
that opened out as they trusted themselves once more to the gliding
waters which bore them gently on, so slowly now that the powers of the
flood-tide were evidently failing gradually.

"We shall have the current against us before long," said the captain
decisively.

"I've been thinking so too," said the first mate; "see how calm the
water's getting. It will be wrong then, for the wind is dead against
us, what there is of it."

"You'd like to go right on up here, gentlemen, I suppose?"

"Certainly," said Sir Humphrey decisively, "till we are obliged to turn
back. The scenery here is grand. Don't you think so, Mr Briscoe?"

"Beats grand," was the reply; "but, my word, if gold wasn't a dangerous
word to name in these boats, I should like to land with a hammer and
prospect a bit up among these rocks on either side. If they're not full
of rich ore I