But now, half drowned by being drawn through the water, the fish came in slowly and quietly, the lad having all the hauling to himself, till, leaning over, the mate made a dart and a snatch with the great gaff-hook, the weight on Jack's arms suddenly ceased, and, helped by the big dark sailor, Mr Bartlett hauled the prisoner quickly in over the rail, for it to lie beating the white boards with sounding slaps of its crescent-moon-shaped tail.

"Well done!" cried Sir John. "What brilliant colours!"

"Hah! yes," cried the doctor. "This is something like fishing. What is it, captain?"

"Oh, one of the great mackerel tribe fellows they have in the Mediterranean. It isn't a bonito, for it's too big, but just as bright in its colours. Can't be a small tunny come down through the Canal, can it?"

"I'm puzzled," said the mate, bending over the beautiful prize. "It may be; but whatever it is, Mr Meadows here has had a fine stroke of luck, and we shall have fish for dinner."

Jack flushed with the excitement of the capture, and stood looking on at the beauty of the creature's colours in the bright sunshine, while the mate placed the end of the gaff-pole between its jaws before attempting to extract the great triple hook which hung by a swivel beneath the silvered shining bait.

"I should say it is one of the bonitos," said the doctor thoughtfully. "It has that slimness just before the tail fin spreads out, and there are plenty of flying fish here, of course."

"Plenty, sir," said the captain. "I dare say if you go forward you'll see them beginning to skip out of the water, startled by the yacht. Seen any yet, Mr Jack?"

"Not yet," was the reply.

"Yes," said the doctor, "I think that's what it is. They chase the flying fish, and this fellow must have taken your long spoon-bait for one of them. Don't you think so, Bartlett?"

"Yes, sir, you are right; but without exaggeration I never saw so fine a one as this. Why," he continued, clasping his hands round the thin part near the tail and raising the fish for a few moments before letting it fall back on the white boards, "it is very little short of forty pounds."

"It must be quite that," cried the doctor. "Well, it's always the way, the new beginner catches the biggest fish. I should have liked to hook that fellow. Did he pull much, Jack?"

"Dreadfully. My arms feel strained by the jerks it gave."

"I congratulate you, my boy," said Sir John. "It is a beauty."

Then the captain spoke:

"When you've done admiring it, gentlemen, there is some one else would like to have a word. I mean the cook. This fellow is fresh now, but they go off at a tremendous rate, and it will be worthless in a few hours. Pass the word there for the cook."

The word was passed, and the worthy in question came up smiling.

"What do you say to him?" said the captain. "Too big and coarse?"

"Oh no, sir," cried the man. "I'll answer for it I can send some cutlets off it that will be excellent, and make plenty for the crew as well."

It seemed a pity to Jack for the beautifully coloured prize to be handed over, but already some of the bright tints were fading, and as soon as it was borne off the mate made a sign to Lenny, who brought a swab and a bucket to remove the wet and slime.

"What do you say to another turn, Mr Meadows?" said the mate, smiling.

Jack smiled and began to rub his shoulder, so the tackle was hung in loops to dry, and the lad went forward to watch the flying fish spin out of the water and glide along upon their transparent wing-like fins; and he returned to watch the beautiful little creatures again and again as, evidently taking the hull of the yacht for some huge pursuing fish, they darted up from under her counter to drop back far away after their forced journey, and swim on till they gathered force and with swallow-like skim took another flight.

"Isn't it near dinner-time?" he said at last to the doctor, who was by his side watching the flights.

"Must be, I should say," was the reply, as that gentleman glanced at his watch. "Yes: close upon it. Glad of it, for I begin to feel a bit peckish in spite of this heat. I wonder what your fish will be like."

He soon learned, for the cook was right, and all pronounced it excellent; but there was something more than ordinary flavour about the fish from the Red Sea, and the doctor gave Sir John a meaning look, one to which Jack's father responded by a short nod.

Edward had had his opinions too, about his young master—opinions which sometimes made him look pleased, at others shake his head.

"Young governor's going it," he muttered, as he stood near watching the fishing. "Fancy him getting excited over hooking a fish, and holding on by the line. Beats anything I ever knew of before. There, you never know what's in a boy till you begin to get it out of him. Why that line must have cut his hands awful, but he never reg'larly 'owled about it, only rubbed the places a bit when he got a chance. Wonder whether the doctor's giving him some kind of physic as makes him come out like this. If he is, I should like to have a dose or two to bring me up to the mark. It's wonderful what a change he's made."

Edward ceased for a few moments.

"Wonder how he gives it him, and what he takes it in. He don't know he's taking it, that's for certain. It must be on the sly, or I should have seen it, and the glass and spoon. That's it. He puts it in his coffee; I'll be bound to say that's it—in his coffee. I'll be on the watch."

"Dunno why I should though," said the man, after a few moments' musing. "'Tain't my place to know anything about it, and if it does him good, where's the harm? And it is doing him good, that's for certain; but I should like to know what it is, and when he gives it."



CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

BEGINNING TO GROW BACKWARD.

"Regular volcanic cinder heap, Jack," was Sir John's not new opinion of sun-scorched Aden, where, while the coal-bunkers were filled up again, the lad had amused himself by inspecting the place with his glass as he sat contentedly under the awning, preferring to submit to the infliction of the flying coal-dust to a hot walk through the arid place. Then he leaned over the side and half-contemptuously threw threepenny-bits and sixpences into the clear water in response to the clamouring young rascals who wanted to scramble for them far below and show their swimming and diving powers.

"Come on board," cried the doctor, blowing his nose hard and coughing to get rid of the black dust. "Sacks counted, iron stopper put back in the pavement, and the wagon's gone, Jack."

The lad looked up at him as if wondering whether he had gone out of his senses.

"What are you staring at, sober-sides?" cried the doctor. "I know it's poor joking, but I'd have done better if I could. Hallo! what's the matter?" he continued, as, in what seemed to be a motiveless way, the boy threw sixpence over the side. "Got too much money?"

"No: look!" said Jack.

The doctor glanced over the rail to where the bright piece of silver was sinking fast and flashing as it turned over, while two merry little young scamps were diving down after it, racing to see which would get first to the coin. This soon disappeared in the disturbed water, while the figures of the boys grew more and more shadowy and distorted by the varying refraction.

"My word!" cried the doctor, "how the little niggers can dive! Look: here they come again."

It was curious to see them rising with the water growing more still as their frantic struggles ceased, and their forms grew plain as they rose quickly, one dark head suddenly shooting up like a cork on a pike line after the fish had rejected the bait, and its owner showing a brilliantly white set of teeth as he shouted, "Nurrer! nurrer!"

The next moment a second head shot into the brilliant sunshine, the boy's lips opening into a wide grin of delight as he showed his white clenched teeth with the captured sixpence held between them.

"Tell him to put it in his pocket, Jack," cried the doctor. "Puzzle him, eh? Hold your noise, you chattering young ruffians," he shouted. "Come, a dozen of you. Here, Jack, I'm going to waste a shilling, for it won't do the young vagabonds any good. It's only encouraging them to run risks of asphyxiating themselves or getting caught some day by the sharks."

He held up a shilling as he spoke, and quite a dozen boys of all sizes splashed in out of canoes, and left the pieces of wood and one old boat to which they clung. They came swimming about near where the doctor and Jack looked over, shouting, splashing each other, and generally clamouring for the piece of money to be thrown in.

"Ah! we must have a race for this," said the doctor, and he drew himself up and made a feint of throwing the shilling.

There was a rush like a pack of black water spaniels going after a thrown stick, but the boys had been tricked too often by passengers stopping at Aden in the regular steamers, and they did not go far, but turned round, treading water and shouting.

"Come back then," cried the doctor. "Here, close to the yacht."

In all probability the boys did not comprehend a word, but the gestures made with the hand containing the shilling brought them all back, and they ranged themselves in a line close in, and shouted and splashed away till the doctor, whose left hand had been in his pocket, threw the shilling shining and twinkling through the sunny air as far as he could.

Away went the boys with a tremendous rush, making the water foam, and naturally the biggest and strongest took the lead, leaving three little fellows well behind.

The doctor had anticipated this, and drew their attention with a shout, at the same time holding up another shilling, and as they turned to swim back, he suddenly dropped the coin about six feet away from the yacht's side, where the water was still.

Plop! down went one little fellow, who rose up, turned over, sent his heels gleaming in the sunshine, and disappeared, as plop! plop! down went the two others.

"Just like a lot of dabchicks," cried the doctor; "now we shall see them race for it. See the shilling, Jack?"

"Yes; here it goes."

"Yes, and here they come. Look at them. Why, they go down faster than the coin. It's wonderful."

Wonderful it was, for the dark little figures glided through the crystal water like seals, and every motion could be followed till the coin was reached and ceased to twinkle as it sank. Then once more the dark figures grew plainer and rose and rose, but somehow more and more astern, and Jack looked startled.

"Why, there must be a tremendous current here," he cried. "They're being swept away. A boat! a boat!"

The doctor looked as much startled as his companion, but a very gentle vibration enlightened them the next moment, for the engine was once more in motion, the screw revolving slowly, and the Silver Star's prow was gradually coming round in answer to the helm, till she pointed straight for the open sea, where the throbbing and quivering of the vessel increased as she went easily ahead, and then faster still over the perfectly calm water, for there was not a breath of air.

Then away and away through the burning sunshine the yacht glided, with the sea glistening like damascened steel frosted with silver, till the mountains above the coaling port grew distant; and away over the burning Afric sands there was a wondrous orange glow which deepened into fire, vermilion, crimson, purple, and gold of the most refulgent hues, and soon after it was night. It seemed to Jack as he stood gazing forward that they were gliding on between two vast purply black basins studded with stars, which were larger and brighter than any he had seen before, while deeper and deeper in the wondrous depths there were more and more, till the farthest off seemed like clusters and patches of frosted gold.

There was not a breath of air when they went on deck after dinner, and with the exception of the throbbing and humming of the engine and propeller, and soft whish of the sea as it was divided and swept along the sides, all was wonderfully still. But the silence was soon after broken by a sharp call from somewhere forward, a clear musical voice rang out, and then, sounding very sweet and melodious on the soft air, the men began glee-singing, showing that they had good voices among them and no little knowledge of singing in parts. They were simple old glees and madrigals, and no doubt the surroundings helped, but Jack sat listening and thinking he had never heard music so sweet and beautiful before.

"Why, captain," said Sir John, "this is a surprise."

"Is it, sir? Hope you don't mind."

"Mind?" echoed Sir John and the doctor in a breath.

"Bartlett's fond of a bit of music, and he has a good voice too, but he is so precious modest you can't get him to sing alone; he's singing with the men though now. He trains them a bit when we're not busy, and they like it. Nothing pleases men like them more than singing in chorus; you see, they're most of them Cornish and Devon lads, and they take naturally to it. Many's the time I've heard the fishermen going out on calm evenings to their fishing-ground singing away in parts, so that you'd think that they had been well taught, and perhaps not one of them knowing a note of music."

The glee-singing went on for about an hour, and ceased as suddenly as it had begun. Then the watch was set, and after standing leaning over the bows gazing at the glittering stars reflected in the deep water, and seeing the phosphorescent creatures add to the lustre as they were disturbed by the yacht's prow, or some large fish darting away, Jack heaved a deep sigh and turned to go aft to the cabin.

"Unhappy, my boy?" said a voice at his elbow, which made the lad start and remain silent for a few moments, utterly unable to give expression to his feelings, before he said softly—

"No, father, not unhappy, but low-spirited and sad."

"Sad, my boy?" said Sir John.

"No, it isn't sad, because somehow, father, it makes me feel happy, and—and I can't explain it, but I never felt that I cared to stand and look at the sea and sky like this before. It seems so grand and beautiful, and as if—as if—"

"The great book of Nature was being opened to you for the first time, my boy. Yes; this wonderful soft air, this glorious star-lit heaven, and the silence of the ocean through which we are gliding, impress me too in a way I cannot explain. But tell me now, my boy, are you sorry we came?"

"Sorry!" cried Jack excitedly, as he caught at his father's arm. "No; glad."

That night the melody of one of the old West-country ditties the men had sung in parts seemed to lull Jack Meadows to rest, and he slept one of those deep healthy slumbers which give us the feeling when we awake on a bright sunny morning, that a strange vigour is running through our veins, and that it is a good thing to live.



CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

DOCTOR INSTOW PAINTS A PICTURE—WITH HIS TONGUE.

A quick run with a favourable wind across to Colombo, a very brief stay, and then on again. There were baffling winds and a sharp storm, during which it was found necessary to get up steam, but the yacht was as good in foul weather as in fair, and to Jack's great satisfaction he found that, in spite of the pitching and tossing of the vessel, he was not ill, but found a strange pleasure in being on deck in mackintosh and leggings, watching the yacht careen over and race through the foam. Every now and then a wave would appear gliding along like some huge bank of water, ready to roll over them and sweep the deck, but the well-trained hands at the wheel sent her racing up the watery slope, to hang poised for a few moments and then rush down again.

"Isn't it glorious, Jack, my lad?" said the doctor, wiping the spray out of his eyes and off his beard, just in the height of the storm. "I don't know how you find it, but it excites me."

"I like it," said Jack quietly; "it seems so grand, and as if the yacht was laughing at the waves and tossing them off to right and left. I wonder whether Captain Bradleigh would let me steer."

"I hope not," said the doctor, with a droll look of puzzledom in his face. "Why, what's come to you, you reckless young scamp? No, thank you. If you're going to be indulged in any luxuries of that kind, I'm going to land at Penang or Singapore, and make my way home by the next boat that touches."

Jack laughed.

"Don't believe it," he said. "But doesn't it seem as if it would be nice to have full command of the yacht like that, and send her here and there just as one liked?"

"Can't say that my desires run in that groove, Jack, my lad; I'm quite content to play the part of looker-on. But this storm is grand, and it's splendid to see how the little vessel shakes the water off her and rushes through it all. But I did want some calmer weather; we haven't done a bit of fishing since we left the Red Sea, and I meant to try every day. Well, captain, how long is this going to last?"

"Another twelve hours, I should say," replied the captain, "and then we shall have calm weather all the way to Singapore, and with the exception of a few thunderstorms, light winds among the islands."

It turned out exactly as the captain had said. The weather calmed rapidly, and their run down to the equator, between the Malay peninsula and Sumatra, was in brilliant hot weather all through the morning; while early in the afternoon, with wonderful regularity, there came on a tremendous thunderstorm, with peals heavier and lightning more vivid than anything Jack had ever encountered, and then at the end of a couple of hours all was clear again, and the evening was comparatively cool and beautifully fine.

Singapore was so fresh and attractive that of necessity a few days were spent there, before a fresh start was made for a cruise through the islands in the region which was now exciting Jack's expectations. Soon after they were passing great heavy-looking junks with their Celestial crews, or light Malay prahus with their swarthy, coffee-coloured sailors in tartan skirts, in whose folds at the waist the formidable wavy dagger known as a kris was worn, the handle, like the butt of a pistol in form, carefully covered by the silk or cotton sarong to indicate peace.

"If you see one of them with the handle bare," said the mate to Jack, "one has to look out, for it means war."

Malay prahus were so thoroughly connected in the lad's reading with piracy, that he looked curiously at the first they encountered, and eagerly scanned the calm, rather scornful faces of the men who apathetically stood about the bamboo deck, and watched the passing of the swift, white-sailed yacht, while they distorted their cheeks by slowly chewing something within.

"What's that fellow doing?" said Jack, handing his double glass to the mate, who gave a quick glance through and handed it back. "Look for yourself."

Jack resumed his inspection of the prahu's deck, for it was not above forty yards away.

"Doing something with a bit of—I don't know what, which he has taken out of a little bag."

"Betel-nut from one of the palms which grow in these parts," said the mate.

"Now he has slowly taken a leaf out of the same bag."

"Sirih leaf; a kind of creeping pepper plant which runs up trees," said the mate.

"And now he is opening a little brass box, which has something that looks like a white paint."

"Lime," said the mate, "lime of a very fine kind, made by burning shells."

"And he is spreading some of it with one finger upon the leaf."

"Yes! See what he does next."

"Rolled the piece of nut in it and put it in his mouth."

"Yes," said the mate; "all the Malays do this betel-chewing."

"What for?"

"It is a habit like our sailors chewing tobacco. The Malays think it is good for them, and keeps off all choleraic attacks."

"Does it?" asked Jack.

"Ah, that I can't say. You must take the doctor's opinion."

But Jack was too much interested in watching the prahu, which, in spite of only having matting sails, sped along over the calm water at a rapid rate, and he went on questioning his companion.

"They seem fierce-looking fellows, and as if they could do a deal of mischief. Are they such terribly bloodthirsty people?"

"Certainly not," said the mate. "I have always found the better-class Malays simple, gentlemanly, and courteous if they are properly treated; but if injured, I believe they can be treacherous and relentless."

"But I remember once reading how bloodthirsty the Malay pirates are."

"I don't think the English, Spanish, or French pirates were much better," said the mate, laughing. "Pirates are generally the scum of the ports they sail from; reckless, murderous ruffians. But I should say that of all pirates out in the East, the gentle, placid, mild-looking Chinaman makes the worst; for he thinks nothing of human life, his own or any one else's."

"But there are no pirates now, of course," said Jack quietly.

The mate turned and looked him in the eyes.

"Do you want me to tell you some murderous narrative?"

"Oh no; I don't care for such things. I know, of course, that there used to be plenty."

"So there are now," said the mate. "They have hard work to carry on their piracies; but every now and then we have a bad case. They mostly come from the Chinese coast; but they are made up of ruffians of all kinds."

Jack was silent for a few moments.

"I heard Captain Bradleigh say that the men were all trained to use the small-arms," he said at last quietly. "Would they fight if we were attacked?"

The mate hummed over a bit of a once popular song, beginning, "We don't want to fight, but by Jingo if we do."

"That pretty well expresses the nature of English sailors, sir," he said quietly. "They don't want to fight, and never would if they were left alone. But if they do fight—well, Mr Jack, if they do they hit very hard."

Jack laughed merrily, to the great satisfaction of two gentlemen across the deck, who turned their heads so as not to seem as if they noticed anything.

"I dare say," continued the mate, "you remember how it was at school; you never wanted to fight, but when you had to I suppose you hit hard?"

Jack was silent again, and at last said quietly—

"I never did have a fight at school."

During the next few days they sailed slowly on at a short distance from the coast of the long island of Java, and except that the weather was very hot, and that they could see in the distance mountain after mountain rising up like a huge, blunt cone, several of them showing a cloud of smoke drifting slowly away before the wind, sailing here seemed in nowise different from by the coast of Spain or Portugal. But Jack was to see the difference before long.

One evening over dinner their plans were discussed, the captain saying—

"Then I understand, Sir John, that you quite leave the choice to me?"

"Certainly. We have not sailed these thousands of miles for the sake of visiting towns and show places. Take us to some one of the islands such as you described to me; uninhabited if you can. If you could cast anchor by one never yet trodden by the foot of man, so much the better."

"Ah, that I can't promise you, sir," replied the captain, "for the people out this way are nearly all venturesome sailors, and for any number of years have put to sea in the most crazy of bamboo craft, and set sail to land where they could, some of them even going in mere canoes. So you see we may come upon people in the most unexpected places. But I have several islands in my mind's eye, between here and the east end of New Guinea, where you gentlemen may collect to your hearts' content."

"Birds?" cried the doctor.

"Birds, sir? Yes; some of the most beautifully coloured to be found on the face of the earth. Parrots, cockatoos, birds of paradise, sun-birds, something like the little humming-birds of the West Indies and South America. Oh yes; you'll find as many birds as you want."

"Butterflies?" asked Jack.

"Yes, and moths, some of them bigger than a cheese-plate."

"Flies, of course?" said Sir John.

"Oh yes, sir, and beetles too, some of the ugliest you can imagine, and some of them looking as if made of burnished metal. Then of course you'll have plenty of fireflies and mosquitoes too."

"Of course we shall get them," said Sir John. "But what about serpents?"

"Plenty, sir, sea and land; curious lizards too."

"There will be no animals to shoot," said the doctor rather regretfully.

"Tigers, elephants, or leopards? No, not unless we make for the mainland. But there is a great deal of unexplored country on the coast of New Guinea and Borneo, and there's no knowing what we might come across. There are elephants in Borneo, and our old friend the orang-outang."

"Let's try one of the smaller islands first," said Sir John. "I'm getting eager to begin doing something."

"I can't exist much longer doing nothing but parade up and down this deck. My joints are growing up. How do you feel, Jack?" said the doctor.

"Lazy. I feel as if I could go on doing nothing for any length of time."

"Here, this won't do," cried the doctor in mock horror. "'Bout ship, captain, and let's get back home, or else to one of these wonderful islands that make my mouth water. Let me see, something of this kind: a beach of coral with the waves always rolling over and breaking in foam, so that just within there is a beautiful blue lagoon of water, calm as a lake. Across the lake stretched right and left golden sands, at the back of which are cocoa-nut groves, with their great fern-like leaves rustling in the sea-breeze, crabs and fish scuttling about beneath them; and farther on where the land commences to rise the glorious tropic forest begins, trailed with orchids and wonderful creepers. Great palms rise like columns, and huge trees of the fig persuasion spread and drop down at several spots to form green bowers, and capital places to make huts. Monkeys climbing about. Birds swarming—nesting or swinging by the rotan canes. Farther on the land rising and rising, and all forest till it begins to be seamed with valleys, or rather deep gorges which run up to the central mountain, from which they radiate all round down toward the sea, and all of them forming glorious collecting grounds for naturalists. Then higher up the air growing cooler, save for a peculiar hot puff now and then with a taste in it of sulphurous steam. Then the trees growing thinner and not so majestic, but the flowers more abundant and the valleys more moist, where the streams trickle down; and here and there are little waterfalls, over which in the spray enormous fronds spread their green lace-work and sparkle with the fine pearly dew which is formed by the spray from the falling water. Here an icy spring of crystal purity gushes from amongst the mossy stones, and oddly enough a little farther on we come upon another spring, from which steam rises, but the water itself is of wonderful clearness, so hot that you cannot bear your hand in it, and the basin is composed of delicate pinky-white as beautiful as the inside of some of the shells which lie in the glorious marine garden at the bottom of the lagoon which spreads all round the island. We push on and at last leave the trees behind, to find the vegetation curiously dwarfed, masses and tufts of wiry grass, and we have to tramp over sandy, cindery stuff which gives way under our feet, and sets some of the big stones in motion. For we have come upon a slope which grows steeper and steeper, and runs up and up, till, quite breathless, we stop short among the great grey masses of pumice-stone and glassy obsidian which cut our boots. We look about and see from where we are over one side of the island, in whose centre we nearly stand. The forest is glorious, the lagoon looks like turquoise, and the coral reef which forms a breakwater round the place seems from our great height to be one mass of creamy foam, while beyond it stretching far and wide is the glorious sapphire sea. We are terribly hot with our climb, but the air here is splendidly invigorating, and we turn to finish our last hit of a few hundred feet over loose lava, pumice, and scoria. It is hard work, but we give one another a hand, and at last we stand at the edge of a tremendous depression like a vast cup in the top of the mountain, whose other side, similar to that on which we stand, is a mile away, while below its the cup is brimming with the verdure which runs up from a lovely blue lake a thousand feet below. All is beautiful, so beautiful, that it seems to take away our breath, for flowers are all about, the gorgeous butterflies are on the wing, noisy paroquets are climbing head up or head down, and there is nothing to show that we are on the edge of the crater of some tremendous volcano, but we catch sight of a thin thread of steam rising to form a cloud over a bare rock-strewn patch on one side. That tells us the fierce gases below are not quite extinct, but are smouldering ready to burst out at any time, sending forth the fiery rain to destroy the verdure, torrents of molten stone to run in streams down to the sea, or a flood of boiling mud to turn the lovely island into a wilderness. All is so beautiful that we can hardly turn away to begin our descent to where the yacht is lying in the lagoon, which forms a perfectly safe port into which it has been towed by the crew. But go down we must, for we are choking with thirst—at least I am, through talking; so long, and I'll trouble you, steward, for another glass of water."

"Oh," cried Jack, who had been drinking in every word, his face flushed and eyes bright with excitement as he pictured mentally the glorious place the doctor had described, "what a cruel mockery to raise one's expectations like that. It's like waking one suddenly from a beautiful dream."

"Don't quarrel with him, my boy. I say, Jack! I did not know the doctor could be so florid."

"I didn't either," said the doctor, laughing, "not till I tried."

"Capital!" cried the mate, clapping his hands softly.

"Yes, excellent," said the captain, smiling, with a peculiar twinkling about the eyes. "But it seems to me, Sir John, that you do not need any guide."

"Why not?"

"Because I see the doctor has been there."

"I never was farther from home than Switzerland in my life."

"That's strange," said the captain, "for that's the very island I am making for now."

"Oh! won't do," said the doctor. "Mine was all exaggeration, built up out of old books of travels."

"The description was perfect, sir," said the captain quietly. "Eh, Bartlett?"

"Photographic," said the mate.

"Come, come, gentlemen, that won't do," said the doctor merrily. "I gave rein to my fancy. I knew that the coral islands are very lovely, and the volcanic islands very grand, and so I said to myself, I'll paint a regular tip-top one, such as ought to please friend Jack here, and I joined the volcanic on to the coral and astonished myself."

"And me too," said Sir John, laughing.

"And disappointed me horribly," said Jack; "I really thought there was such a place."

"So there is, Mr Jack, and we're sailing for it now," said the captain quietly.

"Aha! Which?" cried the doctor merrily, as he felt that he was trapping the captain fast,—"coral or volcanic?"

"Both, sir," said the latter, and he looked at Jack as he spoke. "There are plenty of islands where a volcano has risen from the sea, and the coral insects in the course of ages have built a rampart of limestone to act as a breakwater, and thus prevented the lava and pumice from being washed away. The island I am making for is one of these."

"But not so beautiful," cried Jack.

"Well," said the captain, "our friend here the doctor did lay the paint on very thick in the picture he drew, and used all the brightest colours he had in his knowledge-box; but after all Nature's colours are purer and lovelier than any we can mix, and well as he painted he did not quite come up to the mark; and I think, sir, that when we've climbed up to the top of the mountain you will say the same."

"Oh!" cried Jack rapturously, and he turned to his father.

"If!" said the captain, very emphatically.

"If? If what?" said Jack.

"There has not been an eruption, and the whole island blown away."

Jack felt as if some one had suddenly poured cold water all down his back.



CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

JACK IS WIDE-AWAKE.

"Land ho!"

It was Lenny, the black-bearded sailor, who raised the cry at sunrise one morning, and made Edward spring out of his berth and run up, closely followed by Jack, who appeared on deck half-dressed, and with his face lit up by a strange look of animation, but he gazed round over the golden waters in vain.

But it was not only a golden sea that met his eyes, for the sky was golden too, and the Silver Star from deck to truck, with every yard and rope, appeared to be transmuted into the glittering metal. "Morning," cried the captain, coming up to him. "Did you hear the hail?"

"Hear it? yes," said Jack, "and it's a mistake, unless the land's hidden by the sun. I can see nothing."

"No?" said the captain, smiling. "Well, it would take long-trained eyes to make it out on a morning like this, when everything is dazzling. But let's try."

As he spoke the captain took his glass from under his arm, laid it on one of the ratlines of the mizzen shrouds to steady it, and took a long and patient look through.

"Ah!" he said, raising himself and keeping the glass in position. "Now take a peep through my spy-glass. One moment: do you see that little patch of cloud like fire, just a little north of the sun?"

"Is that north? Yes. I think I see the patch you mean."

"Then fix your glass on the horizon just on the line where the sea melts into sky, under the middle one of those three patches. Quick, before they change."

Jack took the glass and looked through.

"See it?"

"No," he said.

"Haven't got the glass straight perhaps," said the captain. "Take a shot with it first as if it were a gun—look along the top and fix it upon the horizon line, and then sweep it right and left till you make the land."

"I've got it," cried Jack.

"The land?"

"No, the line of the horizon. I wasn't looking through the eye-piece. That's it; now I can see the edge of the sea quite plainly."

"Then you are clever," said the captain, laughing. "I never did. Well, sweep it about to right and left. See the land?"

"No," said Jack after a good long try. "Isn't it a mistake?"

"Let me try again," said the captain, taking the glass. "Yes, there it is plainly enough, just under the little golden cloud to the right; they are floating northward. Try again."

Jack took the glass, brought it to bear, and was silent.

"See it?"

"No. I can make out that beautiful golden cloud."

"Well, now look under it."

"Yes, I've been looking right under it, but there's nothing there but a little hazy patch."

"Then you do see it," said the captain.

"That?"

"Yes; what did you expect to see?"

"Why, the island you talked about."

"Well, I don't say that is it, because I want to make an observation first, but I feel pretty sure that it is the place."

"But that looks so little."

"It's a little island."

"Yes, but that looks so very small."

"So would you seem small if you were thirty or forty miles away," said the captain, taking the glass and having another good long look. "The air is very clear this morning, and the island looms up. But we shall see better by and by."

They had been steadily sailing east for some days, and land had been sighted several times since. Jack had stood gazing longingly over the starboard rail at the tops of the Java volcanoes, which had followed one another in succession, some with the clouds hanging round their sides and their peaks clear, but two with what looked in the distance like tiny threads of smoke rising from their summits, and spreading out into a top like a mushroom.

This long island had tempted him strongly, and he had suggested to his father that they should make a halt there, but Sir John and the doctor both shook their heads.

"No," said the latter, "I vote against it. I believe Java to be a very interesting country, but for our purpose it is spoiled."

"Yes," said Sir John; "we don't want to get to a place full of plantations and farms; we want an out-of-the-way spot where the naturalist and traveller have not run riot over the land; where Nature is wild and untamed."

"And where we can find something new," said the doctor. "That place the captain talked about is the very spot."

"But we may not find it," said Jack.

"Let's chance it, my boy," said his father; "and even if we do not hit upon that, there are plenty of places far more interesting to us than Java is likely to be."

And now at last they were in sight of the very place, and a wild excitement began to fill the boy's breast as he went over the doctor's imaginary description, one which the captain declared to be perfectly accurate, for so many islands existed formed upon that very plan.

It did not occur to Jack that a great change had come over him, nor that people on board were noticing him when he hurried down to finish dressing that morning, and back on deck with his powerful binocular glass, to stand gazing away toward the east.

"This is clearer and better than the captain's glass," he thought to himself, "and easier to use," as he made out the misty little undefined patch, but was disappointed to find how slightly it had changed in the time he had been below.

He ate his breakfast hurriedly, and came on deck again with his excitement growing, and Sir John and the doctor exchanged glances, but nothing was said, as they leisurely finished their meal and then followed him.

"When shall we make the land, captain?" said Sir John.

"Perhaps not till to-morrow morning," was the reply, "under sail: the wind's falling."

"Why, where is Jack?" said the doctor suddenly. "He came on deck."

The captain gave him a queer look, and jerked his head backward, as he stood facing the wheel.

"Forward in the bows?" said the doctor.

"No: look up."

Sir John and the doctor looked up in astonishment to find that Jack had mounted the mainmast shrouds, and was now perched in the little apology for a top, with his arms about the foot of the topmast, against which he held his glass, gazing east.

Sir John drew a deep breath, and looked at his friend.

"Don't take the slightest notice," said the latter; "treat it as quite a matter of course. He has taken his spring and is out of his misery. He won't want any corks to swim with now, nor for us to hold him up."

"That's right, gentlemen," said the captain. "His spirit's rising, and that will carry him along. I wouldn't notice anything."

"Hi! father!" cried the lad, as he lowered his glass and caught sight of them. "I can't make much out even here. I say, Captain Bradleigh, are you sure this is the island?"

"Well, I'm sure it's land," replied the captain.

"But we don't seem to get a bit nearer."

"Sun's getting higher and makes it fainter. But the wind is falling, and we'll clap on a little more sail."

As the morning went on sail after sail was added, the men springing aloft and shaking out the squaresails, while long triangular pieces of canvas were run up the stays till the yacht was crowded, and she glided along with a delightfully easy motion.

But it was all in vain; the wind sank and sank, till at mid-day the sails hung motionless in the glowing sunshine, while, save for a slow soft heaving, the glassy transparent sea was absolutely without motion.

"Oh, this is vexatious!" cried Jack impatiently.

"Yes, you'll have to whistle for the wind, Jack," said the doctor, stretching himself under the awning and lighting his cigar.

"Whistle for nonsense!" said the lad irritably. "So tiresome, just too as we have come in sight of the place."

"Practice for your patience, my boy," said Sir John merrily. "Oughtn't he to come under the awning out of the scorching sun?" he continued to the doctor, as Jack went forward to where Captain Bradleigh was giving orders about lowering some of the studding-sails.

"Won't hurt him so long as he does not exert himself," replied the doctor. "The sun, sir, is the real fount of life. Nature incites all animals to bask in it, even the fish. There's a shoal swimming yonder. We'll have a try for some presently. Do him good."

"Then why don't you go and lie in it?" said Sir John, smiling.

"Because I don't want doing good. Too idle. I'm drinking all this in. I never felt so well in my life."

"Nor I," said Sir John, watching his son's movements, "but I begin to feel as if I should like to be doing something active. What's Jack about?"

The answer came in the boy's voice, heard distinctly enough in the clear air,—

"I say, don't take the sails down, Captain Bradleigh," he said; "the wind may come again soon."

"Not before sundown," replied the captain, "and then we shan't want stuns'ls."

"But it might!"

"Yes, and it might come with a sudden touch of hurricane, my lad. We're getting where dangers lie pretty quickly, and we old sea-going folk don't like to be taken unawares."

"What would it do then if a touch of hurricane did come?"

"Perhaps take our masts short off by the board before we could let everything go. Not nice to have half our canvas stripped away. You haven't been at sea so long as I have, squire."

"No, of course not," said Jack impatiently. "But I say, why don't you get up steam?"

"Because we want to keep our coal for an emergency, or when we want to get on."

"Well, we want to get on now."

The captain smiled.

"Go and ask your father what he thinks."

"Yes; come with me."

The captain humoured him, and they walked aft to where the awning cast its grateful shade.

"Here, father, hadn't we better have the steam up and get on?"

"I hardly think so, Jack. What do you say, captain; will the calm last?"

"Only till sundown, sir; then I think we shall have a nice soft breeze again."

"Then I say no, Jack," said Sir John. "We're quite hot enough, and it does not seem fair to the men to send them down making roaring fires when there is so little need."

"You'd be getting brown on both sides at once, Jack," said the doctor. "Look yonder; fish rising. What do you say to having a try?"

"Yes," said Jack eagerly, "let's get up the lines. Hi, Mr Bartlett, come on."

The mate had taken the captain's place, and was superintending the lowering of the studding-sails.

"Yes, all right, Bartlett," cried the captain, "I'll see to that;" and giving the lad a friendly nod, he went forward, the mate coming aft.

"Look! Fish!" cried Jack. "What had we better do, Mr Bartlett?"

"Yes; send out some light lines floating in the current," said the doctor.

"No, I don't think we should do much that way. More likely to get something from close in under the bows with the grains," replied the mate thoughtfully. "But what I should do would be to lower a boat and gently scull her toward one of those shoals; we might do something then."

"That's the way," cried Jack. "Here, hi! Lenny, we want you."

The big black-bearded fellow looked inquiringly at the captain, who nodded, and the man came aft, while Jack and the doctor went below, the former in a hurry, the latter with a good deal of deliberation. The mate and the man then proceeded to lower the light gig and cast off the falls, leaving her hanging by the painter.

"Strong tackle and bright artificial baits, Jack, my lad. The water's wonderfully clear."

These were selected from the ample store, and carried up to the boat, into which a basket, a bucket, and a big stone bottle covered with a felt jacket, and full of fresh water, were lowered.

"Won't you come, father?" said Jack suddenly.

"Well—er—no," said Sir John; "there is hardly room for another in that boat."

"Then we'll have a larger," cried Jack in a decisive tone, speaking as his father had never heard him speak before.

"No, no," cried Sir John; "don't alter your plans. But look out there."

He pointed away from the side of the yacht, and Jack shaded his eyes, for the sun flashed from the surface.

"Fish of some kind," said the lad eagerly. "Look, Mr Bartlett; what are they—eels?"

"Snakes—sea-snakes," said the mate quietly; and they stood gazing at a little cluster of eight or ten beautiful mottled creatures lying close to the surface, almost motionless, except that one now and then changed the S-like figure into which it lay by bending and waving its long sinuous body into some other graceful curve, progressing by a slight wavy motion of its tail.

"Proof positive, Jack, that there are sea-snakes," said Sir John.

"We shall have to look out," said the doctor, laughing. "Perhaps these are the babies, and papa and mamma not far off."

"Hallo! what have you got there?" said the captain, coming up. "Snakes, eh? Plenty of them to be found."

"And big ones?" asked Jack eagerly.

"I don't say that, my lad," replied the captain. "There's a pretty good big one there though."

"What, that?" cried Jack. "Three or four feet long."

"Nearer eight when he is out of the water."

"Would they take a bait?"

"Doubtful. But I would not try. Those things can bite, and, as I said, I've known cases out in the Indian Ocean where men have died from their bites. They're best dealt with from a distance. Why don't you shoot one for a curiosity? You could keep it in spirits."

"Ah, why not?" said the doctor; and he ran below, to return directly with a double gun and some cartridges, a couple of which he inserted at the breech.

Sir John looked at his friend inquiringly.

"There you are," said the doctor, handing the gun to Jack. "I'd rest the barrels on the rails as we're rolling a little. Then take a good aim as we're rising, not as we're going down, and fire as if you wanted the shot to go under its head."

Jack hesitated, and shrank a little, but mastering his feeling of trepidation, he took the gun, and rested the barrels on the rail.

"Why am I to fire under if I want to hit the snake?" he said.

"Because you will be in motion, and if you do not, your charge of shot will be carried above the reptile for one thing; another is to allow for the refraction, which makes the snake seem higher in the water than it is."

"But that one has its back right out."

"Yes: quick! a quick aim, and then draw the trigger."

Jack had never fired a gun in his life, and he shrank from doing so now, but every one was watching him; and as the barrels still lay on the rail, he glanced along between them as he had along the captain's telescope that morning, and pulled the trigger, but no explosion followed.

"Quick!" cried the doctor. "Do you call that quick?"

"It won't go off," said Jack, with a touch of irritation in his voice.

"Of course it won't," cried the doctor. "Why, you had not cocked it."

Jack had had no experience of guns, but he knew what ought to be done, and quickly drawing back the hammers, he took aim just beneath the largest of the snakes, and fired.

He had not placed the stock close to his shoulder, so he received a sharp blow, and the report sounded deafening, the smoke was blinding, and it was some moments before he was able to see what luck had attended his shot.

Better than he expected. The large snake was writhing and twining about in the water, and splashing it with blows from its tail, but the others had disappeared, and the mate had dropped down into the boat, and taken up the long-handled gaff-hook.

"Mind what you're about, Bartlett," cried the captain. "Don't lift it into the boat while it's so lively."

"I'll take care," was the reply, and after giving the gig a thrust which sent it near enough, the mate watched his opportunity, and lowering the hook made a snatch with it, catching the snake somewhere about the middle.

The touch seemed to fill the reptile full of animation, and quick as thought it twined itself in a knot about the hook, bit at it, and began lashing at the strong ash pole with its tail.

"Don't be rash, Bartlett," cried the captain. "We mustn't have any accidents. There, keep the end down in the water while Mr Meadows here gives it the other barrel."

"Fire at it again?" said Jack, who was full of excitement.

"Yes; give it him and finish him off," cried the doctor.

Jack raised the piece again, and it was none too soon, for the serpent was beginning to make its way along the pole toward the mate's hands, while it held on by tightening the folds of the lower part of its body.

The lad took aim at the knot twined round the hook, and then shivered as he saw the head of the dangerous beast gliding, or more correctly thrust along the ash handle, and changing the direction of the muzzle of the piece a little to the left, he once more fired, when the snake's head fell with a splash into the sea, the tight knot about the hook relaxed, the tail fell limply, and writhing with a feeble motion, the two ends hanging down together, prevented from falling by one twist round the gaff.

"Bravo! well done, Jack!" cried the doctor. "I say, my lad, if you begin by shooting like that you'll turn out a good shot. Now, Bartlett, let's have the beast on board and see what it's like."

The mate placed the gaff across the bows of the gig and thrust an oar over the stern, sculling the boat alongside, with the snake trailing in the water. Then taking hold of the gaff handle, climbed on board, and the prize was drawn on the deck, to lie writhing feebly and quite beyond the power of doing mischief, but it was scarcely disfigured, the small shot having done their work without much injuring the skin.

"Well, this is something to begin with," said Sir John, examining the beautifully mottled creature, as it lay in the sun, the dark, almost black ground of the skin showing up the ochre yellow markings, while in certain lights the black glistened with iridescent hues.

"A good eight feet long," said the captain; "but you'd better be careful. Cut his head off: he won't revive and show fight then."

"What, and spoil that beautiful skin!" cried the doctor. "No!"

"Get a length of stout fishing-line, Lenny," said the captain quietly; and the man trotted forward, his companions of the crew making way for him to pass, and then closing round again to examine the capture, which kept on raising its head a little and letting it fall back on the deck, after which a wave ran along the body right to the tail, which, instead of being round and tapering off, showed the creature's adaptability for an aqueous life by being flattened so that the end was something like the blade of a sword.

"We had better start a spirit tub at once," said the doctor; and he bent down over the head. "What sharp eyes!" he continued. "Malignant looking little beast."

"That's right," said the captain, as Lenny came up with the stout line. "Now make a noose in it. No, no, not at the end: a couple of fathoms in. That's the way. Take hold, one of you others. Now together draw the loop over the thing's head."

"What are you going to do?" cried Jack excitedly.

"Take care that he doesn't do any mischief, my lad," cried the captain; and standing about a dozen feet apart, the two sailors carefully drew the noose along the deck, till the bottom touched the snake's head, but it would not pass under.

"Bring your gaff, Bartlett," cried the captain, "and raise the head a little."

Hardly had he uttered the words, when the snake lifted it of itself a few inches from the white deck, and its whole body was in motion.

"Look out," cried Jack; and several of the men started back, but the sailors who held the line stood fast, and drew the noose over the reptile's head, and with a quick snatch tightened the strong cord about its neck.

The effect seemed magical, and the shot to have done nothing more than stun the creature for a time. It was now apparently as strong as ever, twining itself into knots and then writhing free again, to beat the white deck with its tail.

But this did not last many minutes, and as the men kept the line tight across the deck the reptile gradually stretched itself out, till it hung perfectly limp and almost motionless by the neck. Then a small cask was brought on deck, a stone jar of prepared spirit poured in, and the snake drawn over the mouth and allowed to sink in. Then the head of the cask was held ready and the tightened fishing-line cut short off. There was a hollow splash, and the cask was covered and secured.

"That's specimen the first," said the doctor, with a smile of satisfaction. "We shall have to fill that pickle-tub up before we go back, Jack. There, go and put away the gun and let's have our fish."

"I'll take the gun, Mr Jack, sir," said Edward, who had been watching all the proceedings with the greatest interest. "I must clean it before it's put away."

Jack handed him the piece, and the man whispered quickly—

"Mr Jack, sir; do please tell me to come."

"What, with us? Impossible," said Jack hastily. "You heard my father say that there was not room for another."

"Yes, sir, of course, not room for another like him, but I'm nobody. I don't want any room; I can sit down in the bottom, or kneel down. And I should be so useful, sir. I could cut up bait, or put on hooks, or take 'em off, or anything."

"What, do you understand fishing?"

"Me, sir? yes: I used to go up our river when I was a boy. I've caught roach and chub many a time, not that they were very big. Do take me, sir."

Jack hesitated.

"Say you will, sir," cried the man eagerly. "I can clean the gun after we come back."

"I don't like to refuse you, Ned," said Jack.

"That's right, sir: keep on don't liking, and say I may come. You don't know how useful I'll be."

"Very well: come then."

"Hurray!" whispered the man, "who'd be without a good master? I'll be back directly, sir."

He ran below with the gun, laid it in his berth ready for cleaning, and was up again just as the mate and Doctor Instow approached the side.

"Hallo, sir, you coming?" cried the latter.

"Yes, sir."

"But we don't want you."

Edward's face became puckered with disappointment, and his eyes were full of misery, as he turned them piteously upon his young master.

"Yes, I want him," said Jack, in response to the appealing look, and the man's hopes rose.

"What for?" said the doctor, and Edward's aspirations went down to zero.

"I don't know," said Jack coolly; "to unhook the fish. I'm not going to soil my hands."

"Oh, very well," said the doctor; "I don't mind, but we had better catch the fish before you take them off the hook. Now then, in with you."

Lenny and the mate stepped down into the boat, Jack and the doctor followed, and then, looking flushed and excited as a boy, Edward jumped in, giving, his young master a grateful look as soon as the doctor was not looking.



CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

AN AWKWARD CUSTOMER.

There was no need to go far afield in search of sport, for before Lenny and the mate had rowed them a couple of hundred yards, with Jack and the doctor preparing their lines, they were passing close by a large shoal of fish, another being some distance astern.

These were leaping and playing about on the surface, making the water ripple and sparkle, and every now and then there was a flash as of a bar of silver darting into the sunny air, and falling back with a loud splash.

"This looks promising," said the doctor; "but my word, how hot the boat is. I touched that copper rowlock, and it quite burned my band."

"I could hardly bear mine on the side," said Jack; "but let's begin."

"Yes, we must have a few of these fellows, Jack. I wish we had rods, we could throw so much better."

"I don't think you will need them," said the mate, as he finished attaching a spoon-bait to Jack's line; "the current will carry the bait right through the shoal."

"Yes, but fair play, Jack. I'm not ready, let's start together."

But he was too late. Jack dropped his bait over the side as the doctor spoke, and away it glided, sinking slowly and turning and twinkling in the sunlit water, while when, in obedience to the mate's instructions, Jack checked the line as it ran over the side, and drew it a few feet back, the resemblance to a fish was strangely apparent.

"There you are," cried the doctor, as, after laying a quantity of line in rings beside him, he threw his own bait so cleverly that it fell with a light splash nearly on a level with his companion's.

"Now then; a race for the first fish!" he cried, and they let out a good fifty yards of line, with the result that, while, by Lenny giving a gentle stroke or two with the oars, the boat was kept pretty well in its place, the artificial baits were carried by the current right into the middle of the shoal of fish playing about on the surface.

"Now for it," said the doctor, who looked as excited as the boy. "We must have one directly."

"If they will take the artificial bait," said the mate. "Keep jerking your line, Mr Jack."

"That way?"

"Yes; capital. Fish like to take a bait that seems to be trying to escape from them."

"Then why don't they do it?" said the doctor impatiently.

"Give them time," said the mate, smiling.

"Time and line too, but they don't seem to notice the bait."

"They notice mine," said Jack. "Look here."

He gave a snatch with his line, Edward sitting ready to unhook the fish, and as he drew the bait along toward him, there was a rush made while it passed, but whether in pursuit or to escape from the novel object the occupants of the boat could not make out for some time. At last, though, the mate came to the conclusion that the spoon-bait scared the shoal.

"That shows what a set of ignorant savages they are, Jack," cried the doctor; "never saw a spoon-bait before in their lives, and don't know it's meant to catch them. But never mind, we shall have one directly, and then the others will know better."

"And go right away," said Jack dryly, as he kept on taking advantage of the mate's instructions, and making his bait play about in the bright water in a way which ought to have tempted a run, but without effect.

"Let's try another kind," said the mate, and the line being drawn in, an artificial sand-eel was fastened by the stout twisted wire hook to the swivel on the line.

"I'll wait and see what luck you have, Jack, before I change mine," said the doctor.

"I don't think I shall have any," replied the lad.

"The fish may be stupid and ignorant, but I don't think they will be so stupid as to try and bite at the absurd thing I have on now."

"There's no accounting for what fish will do," said the mate, smiling. "That's right; let it go. I've caught mackerel often enough on the Cornish coast with a hook at the end of a piece of gut run through a broken scrap of clay tobacco-pipe."

"Yes, mackerel are splendid fellows to bite. I've caught them myself with a soft white goose feather tied on to a hook, and thrown as if it were a fly, and—"

"Oh!" cried Jack, with a cry of excitement, "I've got one," and Edward half rose in his excitement from his seat.

For as he let the line run gently through his fingers from where it lay in rings at the bottom of the boat, it was suddenly snatched away and began to run rapidly.

"Stop it! Catch hold quickly," cried the mate; and Jack seized the line again and held on.

"I've got it!" he cried, as he felt thrill after thrill run up his arms in the fish's struggles to escape.

"Haul him in, Jack," said the doctor. "Bravo! first one to you. We shall begin to take some now."

"It won't come," cried Jack, as he held on by the line, with the fish evidently diving down into deep water in its frantic efforts to escape.

"Pull, lad!"

"But it's a monster, and the line cuts my hand. No, no, not you," he cried to his man.

"Let me try," said the mate.

"No, no, I mean to catch it myself," said Jack excitedly. "Ah, don't touch it."

"Only to see what it's like," said the mate, reaching over so as to take hold of the line.

"Not a very large one," he said, "two or three pounds perhaps. There, I think you can haul that in; I'll lift it into the boat with the gaff."

"Oh, don't touch it with that," cried Jack quickly; "it's all snaky, and we shall want to eat the fish."

"I'll give it a good wash in the water," said the mate, smiling.

"No; let me lift it in when I get it to the side," said Jack excitedly. "Yes, it's coming now."

"But if you try to lift it in, the hook will drag out of the fish's jaws," said the mate.

"Yes; let him lift it in, Jack," said the doctor. "Don't let it get away, or it will go and tell all the other fish not to bite."

"Of course," said Jack dryly, "and give a full description of me and my line."

"I shall have to try a fresh bait," said the doctor, beginning to draw in.

"I caught a glimpse of him," said Jack, as he hauled slowly on his line. "How strong a fish is in the water!—Ah!—Oh, I say, Mr Bartlett, how can you say it is not a big one!" cried the lad, as there was a tremendous jerk given at the line, and then a series of sharp tugs, followed by a steady drag which made the line begin to run through the fisher's hands again.

"It cuts! it hurts! I can't hold it!" cried Jack excitedly, and he was about to let go, when Edward caught hold, and then the mate's firm strong hands reached over and took hold of the line beyond his and began to haul.

But at the first drag he made at the line, the fish gave a peculiar wallow, which felt as if it had spun itself round in the water, and began in spite of the mate's efforts to move off, the line gliding through his fingers, till by a sudden action he twisted the slack round his hand and held on.

"Now isn't it a big one?" cried Jack. "Look here, doctor."

"I'm looking. Why, Jack, you've got hold of that snake's grandfather. Mind what you're doing, or you'll have the sea serpent aboard."

"What!" cried the lad, looking aghast.

"Hurrah! I've got one too," cried the doctor. "Humph! only a little one;" and he began to haul in. "Hurrah! something else has taken it," he shouted. "Here, Bartlett, I've got hold of a whale."

"We've got a shark," said the mate. "Look at the boat."

"Let go—let go quick!" cried Jack excitedly; "the fish is running away with us."

"And no mistake," said the doctor. "Mine's helping. Why, Jack, this is something like sport."

"How can you laugh!" cried the boy; "it must be horribly dangerous. Cut the line;" and Edward's knife was hastily opened.

"Oh no," said the mate, "we don't want to lose that, it will break directly close to the hook."

"Think we could get them both alongside?" said the doctor.

"Not with tackle like this," replied the mate; "we should want fine rope and a bit of chain. Mine must be six feet long. Look what a rate we're going at."

"Why, it's like being fast to a whale," cried the doctor.

"Not quite so bad as that," said the mate, laughing. "There he goes," he added, as the line suddenly hung loose in his hands.

"Gone?" cried Jack with a sigh of relief.

"Yes, and it's a good proof of the quality of the lines. They are wonderfully strong to hold out so long. Cut into my hands pretty well."

"Come and give me a hand, Jack," cried the doctor.

The boy moved unwillingly, but he reached over and took hold, half expecting to see a head come out of the water, a pair of menacing jaws open close to his hands, and a pair of fierce eyes give him a questioning look as to what he was doing to a peaceable inhabitant of the deep. But he had hardly felt the throbbing drag at the end of a hundred yards of line when the shark dived, and he and the doctor sank back in the boat, whose steady progress through the water was checked.

"How do you like fishing?" said the doctor merrily.

"But I don't quite understand," said Jack. "Oh, it's easy enough, boy," cried the doctor, smiling; "we threw out little fish or imitations. Bigger ones took them. Then a pair of monsters seized the bigger ones and began to tow the boat; and if we had held on much longer we should have had a pair as big as the yacht take our monsters, and end by swallowing us, boat and all."

"But you don't think they were sea serpents?" said Jack, whose face looked a little sallow.

"Oh no," said the mate. "Sharks without doubt. Look here, the twisted wire is regularly cut through, as if by a pair of shears," he continued, as he held up the end of the line he had drawn in. "How is yours?"

"Haven't got the end yet," said the doctor, who was hauling away. "Here we are," he cried; "mine's broken where the snood joins on. What's to be done now?"

"Put on fresh baits," said Jack sharply; and Edward reached for the basket.

The mate and the doctor exchanged glances. "Very well," said the latter; "but I expect it only means another fight like the last. Eh, Bartlett?"

"I'm afraid so. The sharks are evidently following this great shoal to pick up a helpless one now and then."

"But it's so disappointing," said Jack. "I wanted to see what we had caught, and take them aboard for dinner."

"Yes, it's disappointing," said the doctor. "What do you think they were that we had hold of—there in the shoal?"

"They look to me like some kind of sea perch," said the mate, "something like the bass one gets down in Cornwall."

"Seem like it from their playing about," said the doctor, and drawing the basket toward him, he proceeded to fit on another artificial bait. "I'll try and stir them up again with the spoon," he said, with a droll look at Jack.

"I shall keep to the imitation fish," said Jack, who was deeply interested. "I think we ought to pull them in more quickly, before the sharks have time."

"Couldn't pull in more quickly than I did," said the doctor. "Well, we will have this try, and if we don't succeed we had better give it up. We don't want to be towed right away from the yacht."

"What?" said Jack, looking up sharply. "I say it would be rather awkward to be towed out of sight of the yacht."

Jack gave an anxious glance in the direction of their sea-going home, and then laughed.

"No fear of that," he said; and as soon as Lenny had placed the boat once more quietly at a little distance from the shoal, the boy threw in his bait, seeing the fish rush in all directions; but directly after there was a jerk, and a thrill, and he felt that he was fast to a big fish.

This time he began to haul at once, as quickly as he could, hand over hand, while after a few frantic dashes the fish gave in, and was half-way to the boat, then three-parts of the way, showing its silvery sides, and apparently about two feet long, and all before the doctor had thrown out.

"Get your hook, Mr Bartlett," cried Jack eagerly.

"All ready."

"Washed?"

"Yes, thoroughly."

"Now then, here he is! Oh!"

"Murder! Look out!" shouted Edward, ducking down.

There was a tremendous splash, the water being thrown in their faces as Jack and the mate stood up, the one drawing in the fish, the other ready to make a snatch with the gaff-hook, when a great dark object suddenly rose within six feet of the boat, taking the fish in its jaws, curved over, and dived down, waving a great grey and black tail high in the air, and sending the water flying over them as it disappeared with the line running rapidly out.

"Let me come, Mr Jack," cried the mate; "it's of no use to let it burn or cut your hands. I'll show you."

As he spoke he stooped, took hold of the line a few rings below those which were rapidly gliding over the side, and passed it round the copper rowlock, letting it still run, but at a slower rate, and gradually adding weight, till the boat began to move, when he checked the line entirely by giving it another turn round and holding on.

"Now take hold. You can let him run or make him tow us, whichever you like," he said to Jack, who seized the line, and stood there feeling as if he were driving in a marine chariot drawn by sea monsters that were quite under his control.

"The line cannot bear such a strain long," said the mate. "If we had heavy tackle we might haul the brutes alongside, and kill them with a lance or a shot."

"Let's try next time," cried Jack excitedly. "How it is pulling us along."

"Yes; we are going pretty well," said the doctor dryly. "I hope the brute won't turn round and attack us."

"Not likely, is it?" said Jack with an anxious look. Then quickly, "Well, let it come. You take hold of the boat-hook, Mr Bartlett; you would spear it with that."

"But I say, Jack, don't you feel frightened?" said the doctor.

"Him frightened! likely!" muttered Edward.

"No; I don't think I do," said the lad frankly. "I feel a curious fluttering kind of sensation, as if my heart was beating very fast, but I don't think I'm frightened—I'm sure I'm not," he added gravely, and with a simple sincerity far removed from boastfulness.

"How can you be sure?" said the doctor, giving him a searching look.

"Because if I really were frightened I should cut the line."

"Of course you would," said the doctor. "Stands to reason. But I didn't come out prepared for shark-fishing, so I'm beginning to think we may as well cut or break the line, and go back. We don't want to have far to row on such a day as this."

"Oh, don't do that," cried Jack. "It's so exciting and strange to be dragged along like this."

"What do you say to trying to get the fellow up to the surface, so as to have another look at him?"

"But suppose it attacks us?"

"I don't think there is any fear," said the mate, smiling.

"Try and get it up then," said Jack eagerly. "Come and lend a hand, Edward," said the mate; and they began to take a slow, steady pull on the line, drawing in the strong hemp fathom by fathom, till the number of rings in the bottom of the boat showed that they must be near their captive, but there was no sign of it till another dozen yards were hauled in, and then, as Jack leaned over the bows, he could dimly see deep down a shadowy form going right onward, slightly agitating the water as it passed through.

Then as the pair in the boat hauled, the dark shadow began to show more and more clearly, proving that the buoyancy of the boat was beginning to tell upon it, and draw it nearer to the surface.

"Can't stand this much longer, Jack," said the doctor; "the line must break."

"I wonder it has not parted before now," cried the mate. "It is of wonderfully good quality, and stretches like india-rubber. Hah! he's coming up now. Will you take the boat-hook and give him a prod, doctor, if he is disposed to show fight?"

"Well, yes, unless you would like to, Jack."

"Yes, I should like to," said the lad, with a couple of red spots appearing in his cheeks; and he bent down, picked up the light boat-hook, and stood with one foot upon the thwart, holding the implement as if it were a lance.

"Bravo! Mr Jack," whispered Edward. "See him plainly?" said the mate. "Yes, very clearly now. It is not above six feet down, a great long black creature. Would it be a shark?"

"Oh yes, that's a shark, sure enough," said the mate. "I saw him plainly enough when he took your fish. But you had better watch him, for at any moment the line may give way."

Another pull or two resulted in the great fish being brought so close to the surface that its back fin showed from time to time.

"Aren't we quite near enough?" said the doctor in a low tone to the mate; "it's a big, dangerous-looking creature."

"The line will go at the first struggle it makes," replied the mate, "and there is no danger. A splashing is the worst thing that can happen. Let him do as he likes."

"What's the matter? What are you whispering about?"

"I was just thinking of cutting loose," said the doctor, taking out a knife.

"No, no; let it be," cried Jack. "Look here; we are nearly over it, and you can see how it tows us along by just gently waving its tail. Pull, Mr Bartlett; both of you pull."

Bang!

At the fresh tightening of the line, which drew the bows of the boat partly over the fish, there was a tremendous blow delivered on the side, accompanied by a shower of spray, a violent ebullition which rocked them to and fro. Then the line hung slack, and the last fathom was drawn on board by the sailor, while the mate went down on his knees and examined the slight planking of the boat to make sure that it was not stove in.

"Oh!" groaned Edward; "look at that!"

"Any damage, Bartlett?" said the doctor hastily.

"No; but I was a little startled. What enormous power these creatures have in their tails!"

Jack laid down the boat-hook, looking rather serious.

"What would have happened," he said, "if the shark had made a hole in the boat?"

"All depends on the size," said the mate, laughing. "If it had been very small we might have plugged it with our jackets till we managed to row back, or the skipper, seeing we were in distress, sent another boat after us. If it had been a very large hole we should have had to hold on to the gunwale outside all round, for she wouldn't have sunk, and then again the captain would have sent a boat to pick us up, if he sent in time."

"What do you mean by in time?" asked the lad rather huskily.

"Before the sharks had pulled us all under, and there was no one left to pick up."

Edward turned sallow, and looked at the speaker in dismay.

"Are you saying that to frighten me?" asked Jack.

"No, I don't make jokes about such things as that, sir," said the mate quietly. "I ought to have known better than to run such a risk, but I did not imagine that a shark could strike such a tremendous blow."

"It was my fault," said Jack quickly. "I wanted to see how far it would drag us before the line broke."

"And the sharks would have picked us all off," said the doctor thoughtfully. "Humph! Not a very pleasant look-out. There's a deal of trouble and disappointment in the world; eh, Jack? Especially in fishing."

"Yes, I suppose so," replied the lad, looking at the speaker curiously.

"But take it altogether, it's a very grand and glorious place, and full of wonders for those who like to use their eyes. I don't think I should have liked for our voyage to have been brought to a sudden end like that, eh?"

"No; it is too horrible to think of," said the lad with a shudder, and he cast a wistful look around him at the silver-looking sea, and the white yacht standing up apparently at the top of a slope.

"Won't try any more fishing to-day, will you?"

"No. Let's row back now, and come another time with one of the big boats, stronger lines, and a lance."

"Oh, then you haven't had enough of it?" said the doctor.

"Enough? No. I want to catch some of those fish, and have a try if we cannot kill one of these sharks. My father would like the adventure too, I'm sure."

"Well, yes, I'm thinking he would," said the doctor, looking quietly at his young companion as if he were studying him. "What do you say to another try to-morrow? I think I should like to have another turn."

"I hope we shall be at the island to-morrow," replied Jack, as the doctor followed the mate back to the stern sheets. "But the first time there is an opportunity."

He seated himself on the fore thwart as he spoke, and held out his hands.

"Let me have one oar, Lenny," he said. "I want to try and learn to row."

"Rather too hot for you, won't it be, sir?" said the man, smiling.

"It is hot; but I can leave off if I'm tired," replied Jack.

"Here you are then, sir," said the man; "I'm stroke, and you bow, so you take your time from me, and hittings in the back don't count fair."

The next minute they were rowing slowly back toward the yacht, with the doctor looking on very silent and thoughtful, as he furtively watched the young oarsman.

"Boat ahoy!" came at last from the yacht's deck. "What sport? Caught anything?"

Jack answered in the familiar old way in which fishermen do reply to that question.

"No!"

"Tired, Jack?" said his father, as the boat grazed the yacht's side.

"A little—not much," replied the lad; and he sprang on deck actively enough, and ready for the dinner which was to follow in due course.

"Brayvo! Mr Jack, sir!" said Edward, who had followed him to his cabin. "I never see anything like the way you're going on now. It's grand, that it is."

"Look here, Ned," cried the boy, flushing; "do you want to offend me?"

"Offend you, sir? Why, of course not. I said it to please you."

"Well, it doesn't please me a bit," cried Jack. "I don't like flattery, so don't do it again."

"Why, that ain't flattery, sir," cried the man indignantly; "that's plain honest truth, sir, and it was because I felt so proud of you."

"Why?" said Jack sharply.

"Because of what you used to be a bit ago, sir. Why, a couple of months back I wouldn't have believed it, for you were just like a great—"

The man's tongue had run away with him, and he now pulled up short.

"Well, like a great what?" said Jack.

The man set his teeth hard and compressed his lips now it was too late.

"Why don't you speak, sir?"

"Beg pardon, Mr Jack, sir," stammered the man.

"I know what you were going to say," cried Jack angrily. "You were going to say that I was like a great girl. Now then—the truth. You were going to say that, were you not?"

"Well, sir?"

"Speak out, or I'll never believe in you again, Ned."

"Don't say that, Mr Jack, sir. I didn't mean to make you cross. I only spoke because I was so proud to see you picking up so, and getting to be such a man."

"A man now!" cried Jack sharply. "You were going to say a great girl a little while ago."

Edward was silent.

"Once more, will you speak out frankly?" cried Jack.

"Yes, sir, that was it, sir," said Edward hastily. "Wish I'd held my tongue, but it would come."

"Like a great girl, eh?"

"Well, sir, I can't help it, sir. You did seem more like a young lady in those times. But you're as different as can be now, sir. You really aren't like the same."

"That will do," said Jack. "You can go now."

"Yes, sir," said the man with alacrity; "but you won't leave me behind another time, sir, for speaking out so free?"

"Wait and see," said Jack shortly; and the man was obliged to content himself with that reply, and left the cabin.

"My word, he is getting a Tartar," said Edward to himself as he went to his own quarters. "Fancy him dropping on to me like that! Well, it's a change; and after all he's better so than being such a molly as he was."

"Like a great girl—like a great girl," muttered Jack as soon as he was alone. "To say that to me! How it shows what people must have thought. It was quite time there was a change. But I wonder what they all think of me now."

A burning sensation made him turn to the glass, to see that his face was growing brown, while in each of his cheeks there was a bright spot.



CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

JACK SEES A VOLCANO LIGHT UP.

"Is there going to be any wind to-night, captain?" said Sir John as they went on deck. For answer the captain pointed away to the west, and Jack saw here and there dark patches of rippled water, but the sails that were left still hung motionless from the yards.

"In half-an-hour we shall be bowling along, Mr Jack," said the mate; "and if the wind holds, before morning we shall be lying off the land."

"Then I think I shall sit up," said the lad eagerly, for his brain was buzzing with expectation, and as full of exaggerated imaginations as it could possibly be.

But with the nightfall, in spite of the inspiriting, cooling breeze which sent them, as the mate had it, "bowling along," there was the familiar sensation of fatigue, and at the usual time, after a long look out into the darkness, Jack went to his cot, to dream that the island was getting farther and farther off, and woke up at last with the sensation that he had only just lain down.

For a few minutes he was too sleepy and confused to think, but all at once the recollection of what he expected to see came to him, and he leaped out of his berth and ran to the cabin window, but from thence he could only see the long level plain of water.

Hurriedly dressing himself, he ran on deck, to see that the dawn was only just appearing in the east, and as they lay to, rocking gently, with the sails flapping, there rose up before him, dim and dark, one vast pyramid which ran up into the heavy clouds, and filled him with a strange sensation of awe, the greater that there was a heavy booming sound as of thunder right and left and close at hand.

He grasped the fact directly after that it was not the low muttering of thunder which he heard, but the booming of the heavy billows which curved over about a couple of miles away and broke upon a reef which extended to right and left as far as the dim light would let him see.

Then came a sense of disappointment which was almost painful. Had they sailed by without stopping at any of the lovely islands they had encountered, to come to this awfully gloomy-looking spot in the ocean? The captain must be half mad to speak so highly in its favour, and for a few moments the boy felt disposed to return to his berth and try to forget his disappointment in sleep.

He took a few steps, and suddenly came across Edward.

"That you, Mr Jack, sir?" said the man.

"Can't you see it is?" replied the lad shortly.

"Yes, sir, and sorry for you I am."

"What do you mean?"

"Why, sir, about the island. They've been a-cracking it up to us, and making believe as it was the loveliest place as ever was, and now we've got to it, why it's all gammon."

"Then you've seen it, Ned?"

"Seen it, sir? I wish I hadn't. It's a trick they've played on us because we're what they call longshore folk. Makes me long for the shore, I can tell you. A jolly shame, sir."

"It does look dreary, Ned."

"Dreary aren't the word for it, but you can't gammon me. I know what it is; I've read about 'em. It's one of them out-of-the-way stony places where they used to send convicks to. 'Rubbish may be shot here' spots. And a lot of the rubbish used to be shot there if they tried to escape. Oh, it is a dismal horror place. Give me the miserables as soon as I saw it, after spoiling my night's rest for fear I shouldn't wake up at daylight to see what it was like. I've seen it though, and I don't want any more, thankye. Don't want me, I suppose, sir?"

"No, Ned. I'm going back to bed."

"Are you, sir? Well, that's a good idea, and I don't see why I shouldn't do the same."

"Let's have another look at the place first."

"No thankye, sir. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not. Once was quite enough. Of course, if you say I am to look, sir, there I am."

"Oh no, I don't want you. Go back to bed. It's a miserable place, Ned, but I dare say there will be some good fishing."

"Take a lot of good fishing, sir, and they'd have to be very fresh, to make it worth staying for. Good-night, sir."

"Good-morning, Ned," said Jack with a faint smile, and the man went below, while, feeling chilly and depressed, and as if it would be wiser to follow the fellow's example, he walked moodily forward, gazing over the side in the direction of the island, and noticing now that there was a low line of thick mist lying just over where the billows broke in foam and produced the deep thunderous roar.

Cold, chilling, and repellent as it was, Jack could not repress a shiver, and the feeling of dislike to the voyage, which had been rapidly dying out in the new interests he felt, came back with renewed force.

"Why did we come?" he muttered.

As his eyes grew more accustomed to the gloom, he saw that the low clouds seemed to be in bands above each other, increasing the strangely forbidding aspect.

Just then there was a light step on the deck, and the mate came up.

"Morning," he said. "Here we are, you see."

"See? Yes; but what a place!"

"Eh?" cried the mate in surprise; "what, don't you like the look of it?"

"No; it is horrible. Just a black and grey mountain rising out of the sea. Are we at anchor?"

"No; only lying-to, waiting for the full light, so as to find the opening through the reef. There is no anchorage out here; I dare say the lead would go down a mile."

"What, so close to the shore?"

"Oh yes. These volcanic mountains rise up suddenly—steeply, I mean, from very great depths, and then the coral insects begin building upon them, and form regular breakwaters of solid stone all round, and these coral reefs rise just to the surface, and keep the waves from washing the sides of the volcano away."

"What a pity!" said Jack mockingly. "I don't see any good in preserving a great black-looking heap like that."

"Don't you?" said the mate, smiling, and looking back up at the gloomy eminence.

"No, I don't," replied Jack, with a touch of early morning ill-humour in his tones. "But isn't that nonsense? The sea could not wash away an island like that."

"What! Why, give it time and it will wash away a continent. But an island like this would be nothing to it without the coral insects stopped it. Some volcanoes rise in these seas and never get much above the surface—the waves wash them away as fast as they form. You see they are only made up of loose cinders and ashes which fall over outside as they are thrown up. Others are more solid if liquid lava boils over the edge of the crater and runs down. This gradually hardens into massive rock, and resists the beating of the sea till the coral insects have done their work, building up to the surface of the sea, and then going on at the sides."

"I suppose you are right," said Jack with a yawn, "but the sooner we get away from this ugly place the better."

"Think so? Well, wait and see it by daylight first. Look!"

He pointed to where, nearly a mile above them, a bright golden spot had appeared.

"Why, the volcano's burning," cried Jack excitedly. "Look! It's red-hot, and gradually increasing. There's going to be an eruption. How grand! But shall we be safe here?"

"Quite," said the mate, smiling, and he stood watching his companion's face, and its changes in the glowing light of the magnificent spectacle, as the golden red-hot aspect of the mountain top rapidly increased, displaying every seam, ravine, and buttress, that seemed to be of burning metal, fiery spot after fiery spot, that the minute before was of a deep violet black. And this went on, with the fire appearing to sink gradually down till the whole of the mountain top was one grand blaze of glory, which went on apparently sinking behind a belt of clouds, till from being of dark and gloomy grey they began to glow and become of a wonderful translucency.

"Oh!" panted the lad, "I never saw anything so grand as that. Look how the awful fire is reflected in the sky all round there."

"Yes, it's brightening it well up," said the mate, smiling; and then the boy looked in his face, and the truth came to him like a flash from the great orb to enlighten his understanding.

"Why, you're laughing at me," he cried. "How stupid! I thought the mountain was burning. You should have told me. How was I to—Yes, I ought to have known that mountain tops first caught the light. Oh, I wish I were not so ignorant."

"You are not the first who has been deceived," said the mate quietly. "Well, the mountain does not look so gloomy now, does it?"

"Glorious! Up there it is grand. I wish we were on the top."

"All in good time. But you know how quickly the full day comes here near the equator. Keep looking."

Jack wanted no telling, and for the next few minutes, with a curious sense of awe, wonder, and delight, he stood watching the line of light descending and making the beauties of the volcanic island start out of the gloom. The bands of cloud which hung round the sharp slope became roseate, golden, orange, and purple, and soon after the lad was gazing below the barren, glowing rocks at patches of golden green, then at the beginning of billows and deep valleys running down, the former of wonderful shades of green, the latter of deep dark velvety purple, across which silvery films of vapour were floating.

And still the light came down, casting wonderful shadows, setting towering pyramidical trees blazing as it were; and then all at once the boy could have believed that he was gazing where there was a gash of liquid fire pouring down into a dark valley, flashing and coruscating till it disappeared.

And still lower and lower, with wonderful rapidity now, as the great glowing disk was seen to rise above the edge of the sea, till the whole island was ablaze in the morning sunshine, and the gloomy, forbidding mass was one glorious picture of tropic beauty. Forests grouped themselves about the lower mountain slopes, lovely park-like stretches could be seen lower still, and beneath lower groves of palm-like trees a band of golden sand. Nearer still, thin lines of cocoa palms edging what appeared to be a lake of the purest blue, edged in turn with a sparkling line of foam, where the billows seemed to be eternally fretting to get over the surrounding reef and plunge themselves into the placid, perfectly calm lagoon.

Lastly there was the dark sea, now lit up into a gleaming plain of gently heaving waves; all being shot as it were with purple, where again patches of rippled damascened silver flashed in the opening of a new day.

"It is too beautiful," muttered the boy to himself. "It seems almost as if it hurt and made one sad. Oh," he said aloud, "and I never called him up to see."

"Eh, what's that?" said Sir John. "Think we were sleeping through all this? Oh no! What a glorious sunrise, my boy."

"Glorious," cried the doctor, grasping the boy's arm. "I didn't think Nature could be so grand. Here, I don't feel as if I could wait for breakfast. Oh, Jack, my lad, what times we're going to have out there."

"Well, gentlemen," said the captain, coming up with his face shining in the morning light, "will this do for you? What do you say to my island now?"

"Thank you," said Sir John, offering his hand. "I don't think we shall want to go any farther, Bradleigh. There will be enough here to last us for life."

"Right," cried the doctor, rubbing his hands. "Only to think of our pottering away our existence at home when there were places like this to see. I say, you know, Nature isn't fair. The idea of such grand, clever chaps as we are—or think we are—having to put up with our gloomy, foggy island, and a set of naked savages having such a home as that. I say it's quite unnatural."

"I don't suppose they appreciate the beauties of the place," said Sir John.

"Will it do?" cried the doctor. "I'm philosopher enough to say that this is just the sort of place where a man can be happy. You don't get me away from here, I can tell you. I mean to stay."

"For the present, at all events," said Sir John. "I question though whether Captain Bradleigh here will want to stop very long."

"Just as long as you like, gentlemen," said the captain. "I can make myself contented anywhere. That is," he added with a laugh, "if I can find good safe anchorage for the vessel I command. Well then, if you think this place will do for a stay, the first thing to be done is to find the way through the reef into the lagoon. There's an opening somewhere near here."

Just about that time Jack cast his eyes aft and saw that Edward was standing by the cabin hatch with one of Sir John's serge jackets in his left and a clothes-brush in his right hand, for though the clothes on ship-board seemed as if they could not by any possibility gather dust— they did get some flue in the corners of the pockets—Edward gave them all a thorough-going turn every morning before he rubbed over the shoes with paste, the blacking bottle remaining unopened and the brushes unused.

Jack went quickly up to him, and Edward began rubbing his head with the back of the clothes-brush; but before the lad could speak the man began.

"Beg pardon, sir," he said, "but you didn't happen to see me on deck in the middle of the night, did you?"

"No, Ned," said Jack, staring.

"Of course you didn't, sir," said the man, speaking as if relieved. "Made me feel as if my head was getting a bit soft."