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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ef216ef --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50723 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50723) diff --git a/old/50723-h.zip b/old/50723-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3dec808..0000000 --- a/old/50723-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50723-h/50723-h.htm b/old/50723-h/50723-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index f97e958..0000000 --- a/old/50723-h/50723-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4793 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Demon Cruiser, by R. L. Wheeler. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -.ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -p { - margin-top: .75em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .75em; -} - -ul.list { list-style-type: none; } -li.ifrst { margin-top: 1em; } -li.ilist { margin-top: .5em; } - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%;} - -hr.r5 {width: 5%; - margin-left: 47.5%; - margin-right: 47.5%; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em;} - -hr.full { - width: 95%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 2.5%; - margin-right: 2.5%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - -@media handheld {body {margin-left: 2%; margin-right: 2%;} - } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Demon Cruiser, by R. L. Wheeler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Demon Cruiser - -Author: R. L. Wheeler - -Release Date: December 20, 2015 [EBook #50723] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON CRUISER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Diane Monico, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 599px;"> -<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="599" height="800" alt="cover" /> -</div> -<hr class="chap" /> -<h1> -THE DEMON CRUISER.</h1> - -<p class="ph3">BY</p> -<p class="ph2">R. L. WHEELER.</p> -<hr class="r5" /> -<p class="ph4"><em>Copyright, 1909, by James Sullivan.</em><br /> -<em>All Rights Reserved.</em></p> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<p class="ph3">Published by<br /> -THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY<br /> -Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. -</p> - -<p class="center"><small>(Printed in the United States of America)</small></p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a id="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS">TABLE OF CONTENTS</a></h2> - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="toc"> -<tr><td align="left">CHAPTER</td><td align="right" colspan="2">PAGE</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left">A Dark Deed</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">The Box</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="right" colspan="2"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left">Lashed and Adrift</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left">The Island</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left">The Vision</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left">The Attack</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">40</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left">Drifting On</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left">Driven Away</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">50</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left">Haunted</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">55</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left">On the Ledge</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left">Captured</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">65</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left">Walled In</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left">In the Tree</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left">Out of the Tree</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left">The Fire-Chasm</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left">Unexpected</td><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">89</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td align="left">Conclusion</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> -</table></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="THE_DEMON_CRUISER" id="THE_DEMON_CRUISER"><big>THE DEMON CRUISER.</big></a></h2> - - - -<hr class="r5" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a><br /><br /> - -A DARK DEED.</h2> - - -<p>The ship <em>Maxwell</em>, Captain Roberts, homeward bound from Australia to -New York, was bowling along upon her course under full sail.</p> - -<p>It was a dark night, unrelieved save by the phosphor gleam of the seas -around the vessel, and the light of the two lanterns hung up in the -fore and mizzen rigging.</p> - -<p>The <em>Maxwell</em> had one passenger—a gentleman named William Manton, -who, having accumulated a fortune at Australia, was now returning -to the United States, where his wife had died during his absence, -but where he expected to find his daughter, Mary, and a young man of -nineteen years old, living with an aunt in New York.</p> - -<p>In an iron box the passenger carried his fortune—gold pieces, -amounting in all to five hundred thousand dollars.</p> - -<p>He kept the box locked up in his chest, which was provided with a -patent lock, so arranged that it could not possibly be opened without -a great deal of noise.</p> - -<p>Occasionally Mr. Manton would go to this chest, and, taking out his -money, look at it to see that all was safe. He was by no means either -greedy or miserly; but he felt very anxious and careful about this -money intended for his beloved child. That his death was not many -years distant, he felt sure, as he had long suffered from an incurable -complaint of the liver.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>This might be detected now in his sallow skin, sunken cheeks, and -hollow eyes, as in his room he bent over his box—counting the bright, -yellow pieces of gold.</p> - -<p>In every other respect, Mr. Manton was a fine looking old gentleman, -being broad-shouldered and strong, with long arms, erect form, and -piercing glance.</p> - -<p>There was upon his face, at present, a look of intense satisfaction, -as coin after coin, in hard, shining pieces passed through his hands.</p> - -<p>"Ay," he muttered at length, "my girl will never be poor!"</p> - -<p>As he spoke, a sudden chill passed through the old man's frame; a -shudder as if an ice-bolt had come in contact with his body.</p> - -<p>He could not divine the cause; but, had he taken pains to glance -quickly behind him, up at a small opening in his door, he would have -known that it was the magnetism of the pair of evil-looking eyes there -which had chilled his blood.</p> - -<p>The eyes belonged to a rough, square, dark-skinned face, the owner of -which was the third mate, Mr. Brand—a man of Portuguese extraction, -whom the captain had shipped at Australia, to take the place of his -other third officer, lost overboard in a gale.</p> - -<p>Brand was an excellent sailor, but a reckless, good-for-nothing fellow -at heart; a cruel, bloody-thirsty wretch, who had committed almost -every crime one can imagine, except murder!</p> - -<p>Still it was evident the man had a conscience, as he would sometimes -get to thinking of the evil course he had pursued, and resolve to -reform.</p> - -<p>Alas! for reformation! rum was his God, and in this he would soon -drown all his better feelings, and keep getting worse and hardened -until he grew to be a perfect devil!</p> - -<p>Captain Roberts had known nothing of this when he shipped the third -mate, who could play the hypocrite to perfection when he pleased. -The fellow drank his rum<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> in the privacy of his own apartment, and -took good care never to appear on deck intoxicated, for Roberts was -a stern, resolute, temperate man, who would never have forgiven his -second officer for being drunk on duty.</p> - -<p>It was now Brand's watch below. In his apartment he had heard the -click of Mr. Manton's chest-lock; a noise which had saluted his ears, -since leaving Australia more than once. Determined to ascertain the -cause, he had emerged from his room in his stocking feet, and made his -way to Manton's door as shown.</p> - -<p>As he watched the old man counting his money; as he saw the glitter of -those bright pieces, his mouth fairly watered, and a fearful purpose -began to gather strength at his heart.</p> - -<p>Having seen Manton return the little box to his chest, the third mate -stole back to his berth, and lay a long time awake, endeavoring to -plan a scheme for obtaining the money.</p> - -<p>"Wouldn't like to take the old gent's life," he muttered; "and -won't—no I won't; for bad as Dick Brand is, he has never yet -murdered."</p> - -<p>The more he thought, however, the less fearful became the idea of -murder.</p> - -<p>The gold—the broad glittering pieces of bright gold, threw a glimmer -over the dark suggestion creeping into and gaining force over his mind!</p> - -<p>Clink! clink! clink!</p> - -<p>He imagined he could still hear the noise of the pieces lightly -striking against each other, as when the old man counted them!</p> - -<p>The sweat came out upon his brow; he felt feverish and restless to -commence the work now, to at once possess himself by a bold stroke, of -the treasure!</p> - -<p>There were no persons in the cabin but Mr. Manton, himself, and the -steward, the captain, with the first and second officers being on -deck, and not apt to come below until two bells—ten o'clock, which -was yet an hour distant. The steward slept away off at the further end -of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> the cabin, and being a sound sleeper, there was no danger of his -waking from any noise less than that of a thunderbolt.</p> - -<p>Brand, however, to make sure, now rose, and going to the steward's -door listened intently, when the heavy breathing of the man convinced -him that his present slumber was no exception to the rule.</p> - -<p>In the middle of the state-room the dark schemer paused, glancing up -at the companionway. The spray occasionally entering this in drops, -would give him an excuse for closing the slide, so that he could hear -if any person should attempt to enter during the performance of his -fearful work.</p> - -<p>Then Brand asked himself what he should do after committing the deed.</p> - -<p>Investigation would follow, and there were many ways in which he might -be discovered.</p> - -<p>"Curses upon it! I had not thought of that," muttered the wretch, -fairly grinding his teeth.</p> - -<p>He went back to his berth, not to sleep, but to endeavor to plan a -safer scheme!</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the evil one favored him!</p> - -<p>At six bells—two hours after ten o'clock—while the captain and first -mate slept profoundly in their respective apartments, adjoining the -steward's, Brand heard a noise, and cautiously peering through his -door saw Mr. Manton, half dressed, about to go on deck, as was often -his custom, to take a mouthful of fresh air.</p> - -<p>He locked his door carefully after him; then ascended the companion.</p> - -<p>Brand waited a few minutes, then one moment exulting, and the next -shuddering at the thought of the deed contemplated, he cautiously made -his way on deck.</p> - -<p>The rascal had carefully considered the purpose in view. He felt -certain that no man aboard but himself, knew of the fortune carried by -Mr. Manton in his chest. The passenger was not at all communicative, -while the captain and his first and second officers were. Therefore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -had they known of the box of money, they would have talked enough -about it for all hands to become in a short time, posted on the -subject.</p> - -<p>Brand's first step, on reaching the deck, was to ascertain the -relative position of the officer of the watch, the passenger and the -man at the wheel.</p> - -<p>The latter, located near the steerage, was looking sharply at the -compass, as it was his duty to do, while the officer of the watch had -gone amidships, where he stood leaning over the rail, evidently in a -reverie. As to the passenger, he had moved far off, and was leaning -across the bulwarks astern, the better to get the benefit of the fresh -breeze then blowing square into his face.</p> - -<p>"Now, then," thought Brand, drawing from his breast pocket a small, -sharp dirk.</p> - -<p>Noiselessly as a snake, he stole behind the passenger, then, starting -up and throwing a quick glance round him to make sure that everything -was still favorable, he drew off to stab Mr. Manton in the back.</p> - -<p>Chance willed that the latter should turn at this critical instant.</p> - -<p>Involuntarily he seized the ruffian's wrist, and being a resolute man, -grappled him by the throat with the other hand.</p> - -<p>Fearful that the man would sing out, which he certainly would have -done at once but for a cold lately contracted in the throat, Brand -suddenly pressed this whole tremendous weight against the passenger, -throwing him backward head over heels across the bulwarks into the sea.</p> - -<p>A splash—a gurgling cry—a hand thrown up above the dark water!</p> - -<p>Then no sound was to be heard save the ordinary noises of a vessel -booming along with the wind and waves roaring, and yards, masts and -timbers creaking.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a><br /><br /> - -THE BOX.</h2> - - -<p>After committing this dark deed, Brand, crouching in the shadow of the -bulwarks, waited to make sure that the splash had not been heard by -any other than himself.</p> - -<p>Assured of this in a few moments, the third officer crawled back to -the companionway and descended as cautiously as he had come.</p> - -<p>Entering the state room, he made his way to Manton's door, determined -as soon as possible, to possess himself of the treasure.</p> - -<p>Procuring a bunch of skeleton keys, which he always carried with him, -he endeavored to unlock the door.</p> - -<p>Vain the effort; not one of the keys would answer.</p> - -<p>The rascal then drew forth his penknife, and with some trouble -contrived at last to pick the lock.</p> - -<p>Entering and carefully shutting the door, he advanced to the chest, -which he soon opened with the key belonging to it, found hanging up -near the head of the berth Manton had occupied.</p> - -<p>He drew forth the box, his eyes snapping with greed, his fingers -itching to handle the glittering contents. The box was heavy, being -made of iron and rather large, measuring about a foot in breadth and -length.</p> - -<p>An exultant grin crossed the man's face, giving to it an expression -perfectly hideous, as, carefully closing the chest and locking it, he -made his way back to his own apartment with the treasure box.</p> - -<p>Arrived there, he held the box up before him, and examined it on all -sides, but could discover no way to open it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," he muttered, "I see how it is. The box has a secret spring, -which I must find before I can get at the treasure. A blasted fine way -of savin' money. I'd like to feast my eyes upon them shiners again, -but guess I'll wait until I get housed before I do so, as one never -knows who be a-watchin' him, and my bein' discovered a-counting these -pieces, might lead to unpleasant questioning."</p> - -<p>He deposited the box in his own chest, upon which he sat down, after -locking it.</p> - -<p>He had obtained what he coveted, but somehow it did not bring him the -expected satisfaction.</p> - -<p>The gurgling cry of Mr. Manton kept sounding in his ears with a -pertinacity truly appalling! The weird eyes of the man, gleaming and -rolling in his head, also haunted the fellow's mind!</p> - -<p>He rose, sat down again—then rose a second time, and threw himself -upon his berth, trying to sleep.</p> - -<p>After awhile he fell into a feverish slumber, and dreamed he saw the -drowned victim come up, looking white and cadaverous, with clothes and -hair dripping, hanging suspended right over his head!</p> - -<p>In his terror he uttered a hoarse shriek, which not only waked him, -but also the captain, who came rushing to his door, asking him what -was the matter:</p> - -<p>"Nothing—a nightmare I s'pose!" answered Brand, with a forced laugh.</p> - -<p>The captain, satisfied, returned to his berth and slept again.</p> - -<p>Brand, however, could not sleep. He was on deck before morning, when, -with an involuntary shudder, he glanced astern, through the flying -rack and scud of a gale which was rising.</p> - -<p>Far in the distance he then beheld a bright light—a red, lurid glare, -apparently shooting up from the sea.</p> - -<p>It was a volcano, which for years had not burned, but was breaking out -afresh on one of the Esmedura Islands.</p> - -<p>Brand thought it was a ship on fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> - -<p>"We'd better veer round, then," remarked the officer of the watch.</p> - -<p>"Oh, no!" Brand exclaimed, involuntarily.</p> - -<p>The vision of Manton's dead body, which might be discovered floating -upon the water, rose before his mind.</p> - -<p>The second officer informed the captain about the light, when, using -his night-glass, the skipper soon ascertained and explained the cause -of the fire.</p> - -<p>Brand breathed a sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>When morning came, Manton was missed at breakfast. Having always found -him punctual, the captain was alarmed. He went to the room and opened -the door when no answer was returned to his summons, to find the old -man missing.</p> - -<p>Search was made—of course in vain—Brand apparently the most zealous -of all in his efforts to find the missing one.</p> - -<p>"He's gone, shipmates, it's my opinion, where's neither weepin' nor -whaling," said a voice behind Brand, while he was looking in the hold.</p> - -<p>The third officer turned to behold Tom Turk, a queer old tar, with -enormous head and body, and short, thick legs.</p> - -<p>Brand looked at him, keenly.</p> - -<p>"What did you say?" he inquired, sharply.</p> - -<p>"It's plain English, ain't it?" said Turk, rolling his quid round and -round: "there's neither weepin nor whalin' in t'other land. The old -man to my thinkin', was a good sort o' chap what has gone, sir, where -p'raps neither you nor I will go, sir, seein' as we've our bad p'ints!"</p> - -<p>Brand eyed the speaker steadily, and was satisfied that he knew -nothing of the dark deed committed.</p> - -<p>Meantime the search was continued, until it was concluded that the old -man, whose habit of rousing up at eight was well known, had fallen -overboard.</p> - -<p>Several months later the vessel arrived at New York Harbor.</p> - -<p>Scarcely was she anchored when a boat containing, besides<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> the rowers, -a female and a young man, was seen pulling towards her.</p> - -<p>The boat was soon alongside, when the young man—a tall, fine looking -fellow, sprang out to assist the lady at up the gangway. She was a -beautiful girl, with brown hair flowing in curls over her shoulders, a -white rose-tinted skin, large, intelligent blue eyes and a form full -rounded grace.</p> - -<p>The moment she reached the deck, she glanced eagerly round her.</p> - -<p>"Where is he? Where is Mr. Manton, my father, sir?" she said, -addressing the captain.</p> - -<p>The latter's countenance fell; in a few words he explained.</p> - -<p>It was a terrible shock to the girl. Pale as death she staggered, and -would have fallen but for the support of her companion's arm.</p> - -<p>When she could stand alone, he inquired all the particulars of the -captain, who promptly gave what information he could.</p> - -<p>"Are you certain he was lost?" inquired the young man; "was there no -way in which he might have saved himself?"</p> - -<p>"I fear not," was the reply. "We must have been two miles from land at -the time."</p> - -<p>"Papa was an excellent swimmer," faltered the young girl. "He might -have reached the land."</p> - -<p>The captain, however, shook his head, saying he felt quite certain -that his passenger was not saved.</p> - -<p>Further remarks were exchanged, when the captain added that the -passenger's chest, unmolested, was in the cabin as it had been left.</p> - -<p>At this, Brand, who stood not far off, turned aside his head and felt -uneasy.</p> - -<p>What more probable than that Manton had written to his daughter, -telling her about the box with him. Just where he kept it, and how -much it contained.</p> - -<p>If that were so, however, it was evident that at present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> all -considerations were drowned in the grief and excitement the girl felt -at the sudden news of her parent's loss.</p> - -<p>With a mute but expressive look, she turned towards the young man, -her companion, who at once helped her down the gangway, telling the -captain that the chest would be sent for.</p> - -<p>"Good riddance!" thought Brand; "I must get away from this craft as -soon as I can."</p> - -<p>Next day he applied for his discharge, which the captain granted. An -hour later, Brand and the chest were lodged at a seaman's boarding -house in —— street.</p> - -<p>Carefully locking his door and pulling down the window curtains, the -third officer drew the iron box from the chest. After a long search -he found the secret spring, which proved to be one of the small brass -nails with which the box was studded.</p> - -<p>Trembling with greedy expectation, he pressed against it, when the lid -flew open.</p> - -<p>Then a strange cry burst from his lips.</p> - -<p>The box was empty!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h2> - - -<p>For several moments the man continued staring at the empty box, wholly -unable to account for the singular discovery.</p> - -<p>Then he sat down and ruminated. No living soul aboard the vessel had -known of his possessing the box, therefore he was certain that the -money could not have been extracted after he obtained it.</p> - -<p>The only inference was that the money was not in the box when he took -it.</p> - -<p>Where then was it?</p> - -<p>Vainly the man puzzled his brains: he could arrive at no definite -conclusion.</p> - -<p>Weeks passed.</p> - -<p>Manton's chest must by this time, have been received and opened by his -daughter. Brand had seen several of the ship's officers, but it was -evident they had not heard of Manton's daughter missing anything from -the chest.</p> - -<p>Brand, therefore, breathed easy on this score, believing that, after -all, the passenger had not written a word to his daughter about the -box.</p> - -<p>Two weeks later, by recommendation of Captain Roberts, who had found -Brand to be an excellent seaman, the latter obtained command of a ship -called the <em>Quadrant</em>, bound to Australia and the East Indies.</p> - -<p>While Brand was preparing his vessel for sea, he had a visit from the -owner.</p> - -<p>"Captain," said the latter, "you will cruise awhile off the islands, -in the neighborhood of Australia, and visit some of them before going -into Sydney."</p> - -<p>"What for?" inquired Brand.</p> - -<p>The order had really been an unpleasant one to him, as if brought -afresh to his imagination, the drowned body<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> of his victim, Mr. -Manton, floating about on the water.</p> - -<p>"Because," answered the owner, "the daughter of that passenger aboard -the <em>Maxwell</em>, Mr. Manton, cannot be persuaded that her father was -really lost. She is anxious to investigate the matter; to search all -the islands she can, especially that one upon which was seen the -volcano!"</p> - -<p>Objections rose to Brand's white lips; but he dared not give them -utterance, fearful of exciting suspicion.</p> - -<p>"The lady," continued the owner, "will be accompanied by a young -man—her affianced, who has been in the United States navy, and -is a good sailor, from whom, in case of emergency, you may derive -assistance. He is one of my clerks; a worthy young man, whom I hope -you will treat with all due courtesy."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, sir," answered Brand, who could be pleasant enough when he -chose.</p> - -<p>Next day he went about shipping his crew, among whom was old Tom Turk.</p> - -<p>Brand admired the latter's skill in seamanship, and this was his only -reason for taking him, as in every other respect he disliked him.</p> - -<p>The vessel ready a fortnight later, got under weigh, and was soon -plunging her bows into the dark waters of the Atlantic.</p> - -<p>On the quarter deck, by the side of Mary Manton, stood Harry -Granville, her lover, endeavoring to cheer her spirits, which had -drooped ever since the fearful news of her father's disappearance from -the <em>Maxwell</em>.</p> - -<p>Brand, superintending the work aboard the vessel, watched the lovers -askance. The presence of the daughter of the very man he had pushed -overboard, made him feel uneasy.</p> - -<p>Every time he encountered the great, earnest blue eyes, it seemed to -him as if they could see, away down into his soul, the dark secret he -intended to carry with him to his grave!</p> - -<p>Favored by fair winds the vessel, in a few months arrived in the -latitude where the tragedy had taken place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Here is where the passenger fell overboard!" said Brand, addressing -Harry Grenville, one evening, just after sundown.</p> - -<p>The young man went into the cabin, whence he soon reappeared with -Mary, whose eyes were suffused with tears, while she gazed earnestly -upon the water, as if there hoping to see the form of her parent -reappear.</p> - -<p>Brand, walking his quarter-deck, kept his eyes steadily averted from -her face.</p> - -<p>Gradually darkness stole round the vessel, when, far ahead, a bright, -lurid light broke upon the vision of Mary Manton.</p> - -<p>"What is that?" she inquired of her lover.</p> - -<p>He informed her that it was a volcano.</p> - -<p>"Then that is the volcanic island where we are to search," said Mary.</p> - -<p>"Yes," answered Harry, "but you must not hope to discover anything. -From this point no man could hardly hope to swim to that island."</p> - -<p>Mary sighed heavily.</p> - -<p>At the same moment, she noticed that her lover's head was inclined -sideways.</p> - -<p>She was then sensible of a distant humming, roaring noise, growing -louder and louder!</p> - -<p>"It is the volcano, is it not?" she inquired.</p> - -<p>"No," answered Harry, "it is a storm coming up."</p> - -<p>He sprang to the companion and glanced at the barometer, which, -however, for some reason, had fallen but little.</p> - -<p>"The instrument must be out of repair," said Harry.</p> - -<p>Then he stepped to the captain's side, and questioned him when he was -informed that the barometer was injured.</p> - -<p>"I need no such toy," continued Brand, "to tell me when a storm is -a-comin' up! I've heard the wind pipe too often for that."</p> - -<p>"We are going to have a hard blow, pretty soon," said Harry—"don't -you hear?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>"That's the volcano, youngster!" answered Brand gruffly.</p> - -<p>"You are mistaken."</p> - -<p>"Peers I know my business!"</p> - -<p>"I am sure it is the gale we hear. You would do well to take in sail."</p> - -<p>"I hope I'm master abroad my own craft," said Brand, sneering.</p> - -<p>"We will leave it to some of your oldest seaman," said Glenville, -wishing to avoid a quarrel, if possible.</p> - -<p>Several of the old tars, among them Turk, were called up. They agreed -with Glenville.</p> - -<p>"I've heerd the roarin' of a volcanic, before now," said Turk, "which, -beggin' pardon, sir, is no more like a gale a-comin' up than this is -like the thump of a handspike," taking out his quid and throwing it -violently to the deck.</p> - -<p>Brand, however, skillful seaman though he was, refused to be -convinced, until suddenly he beheld driving down upon him from -windward, a long line of white water, showing like a wall through the -gloom.</p> - -<p>Then the unmistakable notes of the tempest were heard by all aboard.</p> - -<p>"Go below," said Harry to his fair companion.</p> - -<p>She obeyed trembling; at the same moment, with a whis and a rush, the -storm was heard sweeping along towards the vessel.</p> - -<p>"Hands! by halliards! clew up everything lively there! Mind tacks and -sheets," screamed Brand, in a voice like the scream of a wild beast.</p> - -<p>Top-gallant sails, topsail, foresail and mainsail were soon clewed up, -and the seamen's forms were distinctly seen running up through the -gloom.</p> - -<p>Too late! While the poor fellows were yet upon the yards, the storm, -with the din of a thousand furies, struck the devoted ship.</p> - -<p>At first nothing could be seen or heard, save the rush and the roar of -the tempest.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p>The spray shrouded the ship as in a white cloud, flying all round -her, blinding and bewildering the men, while the roar of the sea, the -creaking, snapping and straining of yards and masts, the creaking -of the timbers, the cannon-like report of the sails, slatting all -over the vessel, with the whipping about of ropes, tacks and sheets, -created a din such as only the sailor, caught unawares in a storm, can -realize.</p> - -<p>Vainly Brand, claining to a rope near the mizzenmast, endeavored to -make himself heard; his voice was as a mere whisper in contrast with -the shrieking and howling of the storm.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile far down, with her rail buried, the ship tore away through -the mad waters, swift as a thunderbolt, pitching meanwhile with a -violence which threw several men off the yard into the white and black -mist of spray and storm, bubbling, boiling and rolling beneath.</p> - -<p>Harry Glenville had sprung aloft to cheer and encourage the men.</p> - -<p>Vainly endeavoring to make himself heard, he was suddenly thrown from -his position, and must have gone overboard but for his catching the -backstay and by this reaching the deck.</p> - -<p>No need now of men to pull the sails. With a sharp tearing sound, -like the blasts from a thousand bass trumpets, every strip of canvass -aboard the vessel was torn to shreds and carried far off into the rack -and scud.</p> - -<p>Soon after there was a crash, when down came the fore and main -topmasts, falling over the side, and dragging the ship down, so that -half of her decks were buried, while the seas continually broke over -the other part.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes Brand, with the help of his speaking trumpet, was -enabled to make himself heard by shrieking into the very ears of the -men.</p> - -<p>"Clear the wreck!" was his first order, which Tom Turk at once sprang -to obey, axe in hand.</p> - -<p>Harry Glenville, similarly provided, was at the side of the old tar, -to whom he had taken quite a fancy, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> who he had reason to believe, -appreciated and was glad of his notice.</p> - -<p>The two soon gaining the wreck, went to work, having previously -fastened ropes round their middles to prevent themselves from being -washed overboard.</p> - -<p>With a few blows they renewed the encumbrances, when the vessel -partially righted.</p> - -<p>The wind was now blowing a perfect tornado, keeping the spray down -almost upon the surface of the sea, which was nearly as flat as a -floor.</p> - -<p>The ship also feeling this pressure, instead of now rolling and -plunging, was forced down into the stormy sea almost to the middle of -her bulwarks, while her bows were completely buried.</p> - -<p>Harry had taken off the rope, and was about returning aft, when the -water forward swept by an erratic movement of the ship, caught him and -carried him from his feet!</p> - -<p>Like a shot he was whirled over the bulwarks, when he caught a small, -rotten piece of rope hanging from the shrouds.</p> - -<p>Brand, who was not far off, might easily have saved him by springing -and grasping his hand.</p> - -<p>For reasons which may be imagined, he resolved to leave the man to his -fate!</p> - -<p>The rope being, as stated, a rotten one, broke!</p> - -<p>"My God! he is gone!" shrieked the hypocritical captain.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /><br /> - -LASHED AND ADRIFT.</h2> - - -<p>"Guess not!" answered the voice of old Tom Turk, "he's as safe as a -marlinespike in a rack!"</p> - -<p>So saying, the old fellow by a dextrious movement, threw a bowline -hitch he had quickly formed at the end of a rope, over the young man's -head, and drew him safely aboard.</p> - -<p>Mary, who, hearing of her lover's peril, had ventured on deck in spite -of the storm, sprang towards him.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, now, lass!" exclaimed Turk, "mustn't be in too much of a -hurry to go, as there's a mighty danger of our all goin' before long. -Bless your pretty eyes! that's what I call a collapse!" as Mary -impulsively threw her arms around her lover's neck, in her joy at his -safety.</p> - -<p>On went the vessel, booming, crashing, thundering on her course, with -all her timbers quivering, as if about to fly apart.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Harry!" exclaimed Mary, "will this storm ever be over!"</p> - -<p>"Yes! be not afraid!" he answered, as he helped her into the cabin.</p> - -<p>There he beheld a sight which was truly appalling. The water was -washing and swashing about the cabin floor up to his very knees, while -articles of furniture were floating about like so many chips!</p> - -<p>The young man conducted the girl back again, and having safely secured -her to the mizzenmast, by means of a rope, he went over to the captain.</p> - -<p>"Your ship has sprung a leak!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> - -<p>"What?" exclaimed Brand, almost bounding off his feet.</p> - -<p>Harry repeated the information, when Brand, peering into the cabin, -discovered that he had spoken correctly.</p> - -<p>The vessel, it was evident, had sprung a leak somewhere beneath the -counter.</p> - -<p>Pumps were immediately rigged, and their dismal clanging was ere long -heard like a knell through the storm.</p> - -<p>The carpenter being sent below, half an hour later, reported the water -gaining.</p> - -<p>Brand stared at him half stupefied.</p> - -<p>Then, with eyes rolling wildly in his head, he shrieked out:</p> - -<p>"I might have known I'd have no luck in these accursed waters!"</p> - -<p>He drew back, shuddering from head to foot. The blue eyes of Mary -Manton were turned full upon his dark, distorted face!</p> - -<p>"Why?" inquired a voice at his elbow, when, turning he beheld Harry -Glenville.</p> - -<p>He gave the young man a black look! then uttered a horrible oath!</p> - -<p>"Blast you, young eavesdropper, are you a-goin' to follow me about -like a spy?"</p> - -<p>"I don't understand! You talk foolishly!" said Harry.</p> - -<p>"Do I?" inquired Brand, with a sneer, apparently recovering his -calmness all of a sudden. "Well, I'll tell you what I meant. I meant -on account of the infernal storms one often meets with in these -latitudes. It matters little, however, we are all doomed to Davy Jones -now, unless we can get off in the boats!"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, the boats are probably our only recourse!" answered Harry, -with great coolness.</p> - -<p>Brand admired him in spite of himself.</p> - -<p>"Why, now, blast it! it seems to me you take matters easy, youngster!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> - -<p>"This is not the first storm I've seen!" answered Harry.</p> - -<p>"No! but when you know that it's p'raps to be your last, one would -think you'd feel uneasy, to say the least."</p> - -<p>"A difference in temperaments," answered the other; "but come! don't -you think we'd better be getting the boats ready? The lashings are -loose and they'll soon be adrift, if we don't hurry."</p> - -<p>"Ho, ho! so you're getting anxious, after all, my young shaver!"</p> - -<p>"Not in the least for myself," answered Harry contemptuously, "but -there is another in my charge."</p> - -<p>As the young man spoke, the ship suddenly fell off, when, with a crash -and a roar like a thunderbolt, a huge cataract of water was borne -directly across the vessel, carrying away the wheelhouse with the man -at the helm, the caboose, a part of the forecastle, and last, but by -far not least, all the boats, which, as Harry had stated, were become -loosened in their lashings.</p> - -<p>This catastrophe held every man mute after he had saved himself from -going overboard.</p> - -<p>White and dumb the sailors saw the last means of their leaving the -doomed ship borne away from them.</p> - -<p>"It's all up with us!" screamed Brand—the first to break the silence.</p> - -<p>"We are lost! we cannot be saved! Is it not so?" cried Mary, clinging -to the arm of her lover.</p> - -<p>"There is no telling!" he answered; "but hope for the best."</p> - -<p>Just then the ship falling off yet further, headed directly for that -great mass of red lurid light, gleaming like a bonfire of demons -through the bleak darkness of the night and the storm.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, there's the volcano," cried Harry.</p> - -<p>"Yes, how like a beacon of hope it seems!" exclaimed Mary.</p> - -<p>"Ay, a hell-beacon!" growled the captain, as he passed into the cabin.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>What business had he in the cabin at such a moment, when his ship was -going down into the dark waters!</p> - -<p>Rum!</p> - -<p>He would drink, drink, drink, drowning the dragon of conscience which, -in this dread moment, seemed gnawing at his very vitals.</p> - -<p>Up to his waist in water, he found the swimming chests containing his -grog, and breaking it open, poured the fiery contents of one of the -bottles down his throat.</p> - -<p>The next moment he felt a rope drawing tightly round his breast -beneath the armpits, became aware then of being hauled up through the -companionway, while the voice of old Tom Turk rang in his ears:</p> - -<p>"Hold there, Cap! Blast me, sir, but this ain't a square above-board -bizness, do you see—a drinkin' of grog when there's peril! How do -you know, but some of t'others aboard would like a few tauts, when -opportunity drifts to em."</p> - -<p>The captain would have responded the minute he was hauled up, with a -blow of the fist, or at least an oath but for the terrible catastrophe -which now seemed impending.</p> - -<p>Humming, gurgling and roaring, a strange noise, growing louder every -moment, was heard in the hold.</p> - -<p>"God help us all!" screamed the carpenter; "no more use at them pumps. -What you hear is the water surgin' into the hold."</p> - -<p>Mary clung closely to her lover, while the men with axes at once went -to work, chopping down pieces of timber for the purpose of forming a -raft.</p> - -<p>"How far should you judge we are from yonder island!" said Harry, now -pointing to the red gleam which seemed to send a track of lurid fire -shooting through the darkness.</p> - -<p>"Well," answered Tom Turk, "it's hard tellin' at night though I'm -shouldn't say we're more than a league from it. It's symbological," -continued Turk, gloomily crossing his arms over his breast, "to many -of us as shall go below instead of aloft."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I dare say you have sinned as well as others, you old rascal!" cried -Brand, fiercely addressing the speaker.</p> - -<p>"There's no denying that," answered Tom; "I have sinned when I was -a little chip, but not since the days o' my apple steelin', from -orchards and such like. Ever since, I have behaved myself like a -martyr, confinin' myself to but eights tauts of grog at a time—when I -could get it, that is; which ain't under present state of affairs."</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the men hurried to construct the raft, which was at last -completed in a clumsy manner, owing to the hurried nature of the work.</p> - -<p>It was high time it was finished, for every part of the craft except a -dry spot on the quarterdeck, was now buried, the water reaching half -way up the stumps of the shattered masts.</p> - -<p>The raft was secured alongside, after which Harry helped Mary to the -floating platform, taking care to lash her securely to the timbers.</p> - -<p>In a minute all hands were upon the raft, and Brand was about severing -the rope with his knife, when, with a sudden lurch, down went the ship -dragging the floating platform with it.</p> - -<p>The men drifted off into sea! but Mary being lashed to the raft went -down with it!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a><br /><br /> - -THE ISLAND.</h2> - - -<p>As the young girl disappeared beneath the dark waters, two persons -dove after her, determined to accomplish her rescue or perish in the -attempt.</p> - -<p>Those two were Harry Glenville and old Tom Turk.</p> - -<p>Could they reach the girl and bring her to the surface, they might -easily manage to lash her to some one of the many planks and spars -floating around them, and faintly revealed in the lurid gleam -streaming along the waters from the volcano, now less than two miles -distant.</p> - -<p>Down under the sea, Turk and his friend finally came upon the girl, -when, with one blow of his knife, hold ready in his right hand, Harry -severed the rope holding Mary to the raft.</p> - -<p>Now, however, he felt the force of the downward suction of the doomed -ship, and was unable to ascend with his burden to the surface of the -sea.</p> - -<p>In this situation the young man preserved his presence of mind, -holding to Mary with a firm grasp, his right arm round her waist, -while with the other he paddled under water, hoping soon to get out of -range of the suction force dragging him down.</p> - -<p>In about a minute, he became aware that he was ascending with great -rapidity, and then comprehended that the whirlpool formed by the -sinking craft had subsided, shooting him and his precious charge -upward with the bubble caused by the collapsing of the waters.</p> - -<p>He was soon at the surface of the sea, to behold his shipmates all -around him clinging to spars and fragments.</p> - -<p>He swam to a spar near him, and, with the ropes dangling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> therefrom, -lashed the girl to it; then looked down upon her white, upturned face, -closed eyes and drooping hair, almost fearing that she was dead!</p> - -<p>Far along the waters the light of the volcano, streaming luridly, -illumined that pale face and shining hair with unearthly radiance.</p> - -<p>"Mary, speak to me!" exclaimed the young man. "Tell me that you are -alive—that you hear me calling you!"</p> - -<p>Vain the supplication. Her closed lips remained mute, the eyes were -not opened, the sad pallor of the face remained unchanged.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he became aware of a noise like a porpoise blowing, and -turning, beheld Tom Turk, who had just risen alongside of him, -clinging to the same spar to which he hung.</p> - -<p>"Phew, bless my eyes!" ejaculated the old sailor, "this is sartinly -a most uncomfortable siterwation for them as has always sarved their -captins faithful."</p> - -<p>Then he looked closely at the young girl.</p> - -<p>"Don't be afraid," he exclaimed, "the gal is all right. That waxy -look, I'm sartin, ain't from death. She'll git over it! I never saw -one of the female sect in this siterwation afore, except once off the -Cape of Good Hope where I was wrecked in the bark <em>Tempest</em>. The poor -creatur' was in the water tied to the bottom of a boat a whole day, -but the water bein' warm, as it is here, she got over her hardship, -and I believe is now livin' parfectly healthy with a famerly of small -children."</p> - -<p>"It seems to me, Turk," said Harry, suddenly, "that we are receding -from the volcanic inland; instead of approaching it."</p> - -<p>"I was a-thinkin' of that same," answered Turk; "in fact the wind has -hauled round a little, and is now a-blowin' from the island, instead -of towards it."</p> - -<p>This troubled the young man much. He now had little hope, in fact, of -Mary's being saved.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, through the din of the storm, the voices of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> Turk's -shipmates were now and then heard, as they drifted along, attached to -their respective spars.</p> - -<p>With the strange coolness of seamen in the most perilous situations, -many of these men even ventured so far as to laugh and crack jokes as -they were tossed about on that stormy ocean; so true it is that "Jack -never despairs while there is a plank under him."</p> - -<p>Gradually the voices became more detached as the poor fellows were -separated further and further from each other by the intervening seas, -perhaps never again to meet on earth!</p> - -<p>Mary Manton now opened her eyes. The plank to which she was attached -had by this time drifted out of range of the stream of light, but -Harry and Turk could see the gleam of those bright orbs through the -darkness.</p> - -<p>"Why! where am I? Harry! Harry! where are you?" exclaimed the poor -girl, while shudder after shudder convulsed her frame.</p> - -<p>"I am here, Mary!" he answered. "Cheer up! You are with friends. We -may, in time, succeed in reaching land."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I am so glad you are safe!" she exclaimed, impulsively, resting -her bright head on his shoulder. "Do you think we are far from land?"</p> - -<p>"I hope not," he answered. Then, raising himself halfway out of water, -and glancing far ahead through the gloom. "God be praised! I think I -see land, now! at all events there are breakers."</p> - -<p>Turk looked in the indicated direction, to behold a long line of white -water gleaming through the darkness.</p> - -<p>"Ay! ay!" he shouted, in a ringing voice, "there is land, sure enough. -Cheer up, lass, we are near land after all."</p> - -<p>"I am afraid our shipmates will not succeed in reaching it," said -Harry, "as they must be far to leeward of us by this time."</p> - -<p>"There's no tellin'," answered Turk; "but I'm afraid not. I hope, -hows'ever, the poor lads will be picked up,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> between this and -to-morrow night, by some passing craft."</p> - -<p>All night long the three were borne on, at the mercy of winds and -waves, nearer and nearer towards the line of white water.</p> - -<p>The sufferings of poor Mary were meanwhile intense, and were fully -appreciated by the two men, notwithstanding the girl's efforts to hide -her pain and seem cheerful.</p> - -<p>Poor child! drenched through and through, cold and feverish by turns, -with a terrible pain in her head, and half smothered by the seas -continually breaking over her, no wonder that she suffered!</p> - -<p>Almost unconscious when the gray dawn stole upon the waters, she heard -the ringing tones of Harry Glenville, breaking like music upon her -half-bewildered senses.</p> - -<p>"Land O! right ahead!"</p> - -<p>Then Harry, loosening her lashings so that she could turn her head, -pointed out to her a lofty cape, covered with shrubbery, beneath which -was a beach covered with beautiful cocoanut trees, now waving wildly -in the gale!</p> - -<p>"Thank God!" she murmured, and endeavored to smile.</p> - -<p>The effort, however, was too much. With a faint but glad cry, she fell -back, half fainting, upon her lover's shoulder.</p> - -<p>The drifting spar was now close upon the reef, scarcely five fathoms -ahead.</p> - -<p>In less than half an hour it struck against one of the rocks, when -Harry and Turk, loosening their fair charge from the spar, surveyed -the water between the reef and the island.</p> - -<p>Concluding that it was shallow enough to enable them to wade, they -made their way toward the beach, carrying the girl between them.</p> - -<p>Soon landing, they found a clear stream, in the heart of a breadfruit -thicket, with a bank of soft turf upon which they laid the young girl.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then Turk, with a knowing wink, drew from his pocket a small flask, -containing a red liquid.</p> - -<p>"Though temperance!" said he, "although I ain't never signed no -pledge, still I will indulge in a draught of this, by way of -celebratin' our wonderful preservation!"</p> - -<p>Before drinking, the old tar put the neck of the bottle between the -lips of the young girl, pouring some of the brandy down her throat.</p> - -<p>The effect was instantaneous; color came to her cheeks, and she opened -her beautiful blue eyes, which were turned upon her lover before she -spoke.</p> - -<p>"Harry! Where are we now? Are you perfectly safe—uninjured—"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," interrupted Turk; "that's the way with her sect, always -a-thinkin' of t'others before themselves."</p> - -<p>"I am perfectly well, and uninjured," answered Harry, as he helped -Mary to her feet. "Come, Turk," he added, to the old sailor, "let us -get some kind of a shelter up for this poor child!"</p> - -<p>A fire was first kindled, dry wood having been found in a hollow -behind some stones. Then Harry procured a log and made a good seat for -the girl before the fire, that she might dry her saturated garments.</p> - -<p>"This is comfortable," said Turk, as he again raised his flask to his -lips; "here we are all out of them perils which—"</p> - -<p>Harry quietly seized his arm.</p> - -<p>"Turk," said he, "we may need that brandy. I will buy it of you."</p> - -<p>At this the movements of the old tar were peculiar.</p> - -<p>He put the flask down on a flat rock; then he spread his legs apart -like a pair of compasses, and thrust both hands in his pockets, -looking at his friend with eyebrows elevated almost to the top of his -forehead.</p> - -<p>"This," said he, slowly, "is an insultin' proposition. Avast! avast! -about buyin' my grog! D'ye think I would sell it, if it'll be of any -use to the gal? No; she is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> perfectly welcome to that and to a gallon, -had I as much in my possession."</p> - -<p>"Nay, Harry," said Mary sweetly, noticing the wistful glances the old -tar cast at the bottle, even while delivering his magnanimous speech.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Turk shall keep his liquor. I will not need it! See, I am quite -strong!" and she rose briskly to her feet.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Turk," muttered the old sailor, "that Mr. which I ain't heard for -many a year, sounds mighty queer. It's too respectful to sich an old -hulk as me, Miss. Please drop it and call me plain Tom Turk."</p> - -<p>"Tom Turk it shall be, then," answered the young girl.</p> - -<p>As she spoke, there was a rustling in the shrubbery near the fire.</p> - -<p>"Savages!" gasped Mary; "let us fly."</p> - -<p>She shrank back, when parting the bushes a familiar form emerged to -view.</p> - -<p>It was Captain Brand.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /><br /> - -THE VISION.</h2> - - -<p>"You here!" exclaimed Harry, starting back.</p> - -<p>"And why not?" inquired Brand, with a sinister smile, "haven't I as -good a right to be saved as yourself?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, and I am glad you have saved yourself. Still your -appearance surprised me a little, as I had thought that no persons -except ourselves, had succeeded in reaching this island from the -wreck."</p> - -<p>"It was a narrow escape for me," answered Brand; "the current which -runs round the extremity of this island, caught me, and I would have -been whirled past the land, do you see, but for my catching the spur -of a rock by which I just succeeded in drawing myself ashore."</p> - -<p>"Bad eggs always float," said Turk, making a grimace.</p> - -<p>"What mean you, you rascal?" cried Brand; "are you regrettin' my -escape?"</p> - -<p>"Not exactly, still I'll own I'd rather some of t'others had been -saved and you have gone instead."</p> - -<p>"Blast you for an unmannerly old dog," shouted Brand; "I've half a -mind to give you a taste of a rope's end. Just remember you are under -my orders, now, as you were aboard ship."</p> - -<p>"I differ with ye there," answered outspoken Turk; "so much in fact, -that if you should try to rope's end me, I should have to keel haul -you."</p> - -<p>And Turk, as he spoke, showed a formidable looking fist, hairy and -covered with protuberances like those one see on the knots of an oak.</p> - -<p>Brand's eye flashed fire, and he made a step forward.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> - -<p>Then he controlled himself, muttering something in an inaudible voice.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the eyes of Mary were turned upon the intruder with a -mingled expression of fear and dislike.</p> - -<p>There was evidently in those eyes some startling resemblance which -made the captain feel very uneasy, for he half turned his head, while -a ghastly hue overspread his face.</p> - -<p>"So," said Harry, breaking the awkward silence, "we did not reach our -destination, the volcanic isle, after all."</p> - -<p>"No," answered Brand, gloomily.</p> - -<p>"Can we not get to it from here?" inquired Mary, eagerly; "I know not -why, but I feel as if we should there find my poor, lost papa!"</p> - -<p>"Never," thought Brand; "your papa has been food for fishes long -before now."</p> - -<p>In a few minutes they were at work erecting bowers.</p> - -<p>Turk was moving away, with Brand about to follow him, when, turning -and catching a sudden glance at the captain, he snatched up his bottle -and pocketed it.</p> - -<p>"You need not be afraid," said the skipper, with a sneer; "I have -a supply of gin of my own," showing a big black bottle, partially -protruding from the inside pocket of his jacket.</p> - -<p>Turk pulled Harry's sleeve.</p> - -<p>"The captain's gin," he whispered, "better than this ere brandy of -mine, would make an excellent cosmopolite for the gal in case of -sickness."</p> - -<p>"You may keep your brandy if you wish," answered Harry, sternly.</p> - -<p>At this reproof, old Turk colored and scratched his head like a -schoolboy detected in some grave offence.</p> - -<p>Then he ran forward, and grasped the young man's hand.</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't taste a drop of my grog for the world, since the gal may -want it. Still do ye see, human natur' is human natur', and I'm bound -to say that I have been selfish in this matter, to the great sorrer of -Tom Turk."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> - -<p>Two bowers were soon erected of twigs and leaves; one for the -accommodation of the men, the other for Mary.</p> - -<p>With their jackets and a multitude of dried leaves, the men formed a -pleasant little retreat for the young girl, who thanked them for their -pains.</p> - -<p>Towards sundown the gale abated. The men took advantage of this to -construct, with some fragments of the wreck drifted ashore, a raft, -upon which they paddled out to the reef, where several barrels and -boxes from the wrecked vessel had drifted. These were found to contain -hard bread and salt beef, enough to last them for several weeks.</p> - -<p>With some difficulty they got the valuable articles over the reef, -and they were paddling them to land, when they saw Mary, whom they -had left upon the beach, beckoning to them with an air of fear and -excitement.</p> - -<p>"We had better let the provision go," said Harry.</p> - -<p>"No!" exclaimed Brand, "I am captain here. The gal has probably got -scared at nothing."</p> - -<p>"Come, Turk!" said Harry, "if this fellow don't choose to follow us, -we will leave him."</p> - -<p>So saying, the young man plunged into the water, closely followed by -the old tar, greatly to the indignation of Brand, who, clenching his -fists, muttered to himself:</p> - -<p>"I will be even with them, yet."</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the beach now being but twenty yards distant from the raft, -Harry and his friend were soon ashore.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I was mistaken," said Mary, as she fled to her lover's side, -"but I feel quite certain I saw the head of a savage, protruding over -the shrubbery near my bower," pointing as she spoke, towards a clump -of bushes about forty yards from the sylvan shelter.</p> - -<p>Instantly Harry bounded toward the spot, armed with a stout club -picked up from the ground.</p> - -<p>Turk was about following, when a thought seemed to strike him. He -retraced his step, and, taking from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> pocket his bottle of grog, -rolled it up in a green breadfruit leaf, and presented it to Mary.</p> - -<p>"Here, lass!" said he, "please take charge of this and—" here a -suppressed sob escaped the old fellow, "if I never return to claim it, -keep it as a testamentary of affection from Tom Turk."</p> - -<p>Before the girl could reply, he was off after Harry, who, by this -time, was close upon the clump of shrubbery.</p> - -<p>The young man looked all around him, but could see neither sign nor -trace of a savage.</p> - -<p>Concluding the girl's fancy had deceived her, both men returned to -assure her that such was the case. Mary, however, looked doubtful.</p> - -<p>"It may have been fancy," she said, "but somehow I hardly think it -was."</p> - -<p>Harry endeavoured to quiet her fears, and was finally successful.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Turk was noticed to behave in a singular manner. He -would walk all round the girl, looking at her, now and then, in a -significant manner winking first with one eye and then the other.</p> - -<p>Annoyed, Harry at length asked him what he wanted.</p> - -<p>"Beg pardon, Miss," he stammered "but if you please, that bottle of -grog!"</p> - -<p>Mary blushed, and thrusting her hand in the pocket of her dress, -pulled forth the flask, which she at once presented to the old sailor.</p> - -<p>"Thank ye, Miss," said he, "it shall be preserved for your benefit."</p> - -<p>So saying he pocketed the flask, and waded off to the raft to help get -the box and barrel ashore.</p> - -<p>This was soon done.</p> - -<p>"We had better stand watch, to-night," said Harry, when the articles -were brought to the shelter.</p> - -<p>"Wherefore?" queried Brand.</p> - -<p>"Because Miss Manton will feel much easier, if we do."</p> - -<p>"Oh! very well, you can stand watch if you like, but I don't care to -lose my sleep for nothing."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> - -<p>Night soon closed round the party.</p> - -<p>Harry took the first watch, while Turk rolled up like a ball, lay -cuddled in a corner of the hut.</p> - -<p>The storm having now subsided, the sea was almost calm. There was a -full moon, but the clouds passing along over the sky, in detached -masses, frequently veiled it.</p> - -<p>Harry was pacing his beat, not far from the shrubbery in which Mary -had fancied she saw the savage, when he suddenly paused, with his ear -inclined to one side.</p> - -<p>Steps, mingled with the murmur of voices, were audible, apparently -approaching the hut!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /><br /> - -THE ATTACK.</h2> - - -<p>To waken Turk and Brand was the work of a moment. Both sprang up to -hear Harry's explanation.</p> - -<p>"We have no arms!" said Brand, "and so we had better be scuddin' off -as soon as possible!"</p> - -<p>Turk thrust his hand in his pocket, and pulling forth his flask of -grog, eyed it wistfully and anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Sooner than this should fall in the hands of them savages," he -exclaimed, "I had better put it, do you see where by rights it -belongs, meanin' the stomach of Tom Turk!"</p> - -<p>Up went the bottle, and the old tar seemed about drinking, when it -struck him that the liquor might, after all,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> come in use for Mary, in -case they should contrive to make their escape. With a heavy sigh he -thrust the bottle back into his pocket.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the steps drew nearer.</p> - -<p>Harry waked Mary, and at once escorted her to the raft. Not a moment -too soon, for, with a sudden yell, a large party of fierce-looking -islanders, tattooed from head to foot, and looming up like demons in -the faint radiance of the moon, burst forth from a clump of shrubbery, -about fifty yards distant.</p> - -<p>Waving war clubs and spears, while their long hair streamed in -red, fiery clouds down their backs and shoulders, the wild fellows -certainly formed a hideous spectacle!</p> - -<p>Before the raft could be unfastened, a shower of spears came whizzing -round the heads of the little party.</p> - -<p>"Shove off! shove off!" screamed Brand, as he seized the raft-pole to -push the floating platform away from the beach.</p> - -<p>"Not yet!" cried Mary, noticing that her lover, who had paused to -collect the jackets left in the huts, and also a few of the biscuits, -was not upon the raft.</p> - -<p>In a moment the young man came panting to the beach.</p> - -<p>Brand, however, not heeding the girl's exclamation was about shoving -off, when Turk caught his arm.</p> - -<p>"Avast there, captain! Don't be in too much of a hurry!"</p> - -<p>Enraged, the latter glared upon the speaker, but this was no time for -quarreling.</p> - -<p>Harry now sprang from the raft. At the same moment two of the savages, -ahead of their companions, arriving, seized the rope attached to the -floating platform, which they endeavored to pull ashore.</p> - -<p>To prevent their doing so, Harry stepped to the edge of the raft, and -with the pole endeavored to strike them on the head.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> - -<p>One of them seizing the pole, gave it a sudden jerk, thus pulling the -young man off into the water!</p> - -<p>With a fierce yell, they then pounced upon him, dragging him to the -beach!</p> - -<p>Feeling that there was not a moment to lose, the young man, by a -sudden movement, disengaged himself from their clutches; then, picking -up a spear, drove it through the body of one who had lifted his -war-club to beat out the sailor's brains!</p> - -<p>The other now aimed at Harry's head a furious blow, which must have -killed him, had it taken effect.</p> - -<p>Not so, however, for old Tom Turk, seeing his friend's peril, had -sprang ashore, and picked up another spear, which he thrust through -the back of the native!</p> - -<p>The scream of the dark-skinned fellow, as, throwing up his arms, he -fell backward, rang down the sky with startling distinctness, while -his friends, hearing that scream, and eager for vengeance, came -dashing on, yelling like a pack of wild hyenas!</p> - -<p>With a single bound through the water, Turk and Harry now gained the -raft, and were soon helping Brand, who had not even left his place, -push the floating platform out to sea.</p> - -<p>Luckily there was an outer current tending towards the reef, and which -drew the raft rapidly along towards the rocks. This soon was reached, -while the baffled yells of the savages continued pealing along the -waters.</p> - -<p>As the raft was drawn through an opening in the reef, and the party -put out to sea, Turk again drew forth his beloved grog, and eyed it -wistfully.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, bless your eyes!" said he, "you are too good to grease the -gullets of them blueskins."</p> - -<p>"Put up your grog, Turk," said Harry, "we have more important matters -to think of."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," said Brand, gruffly, "we've to think that we may be food for -fishes!"</p> - -<p>"Do you not believe we can reach the volcanic island, now?" inquired -Mary, as she glanced towards the red light, gleaming, far away, along -the waters.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> - -<p>"It's hard tellin'," answered Brand. "If there's no heavy sea and we -can make head against the southern tendency of the current, we may -contrive to reach the island."</p> - -<p>With their poles which were not flat enough for paddles, the party -made slow progress.</p> - -<p>An hour had passed, when, suddenly, Mary pointed far astern towards a -long, dark object, apparently shooting out from the shore.</p> - -<p>"What is that?"</p> - -<p>"A canoe, by ——!" ejaculated Brand. "We may as well give up, now!"</p> - -<p>"No!" exclaimed Harry, resolutely. "We will not give up! If I mistake -not," he added, pointing towards a dark mass, floating through the air -to windward of them, "there is a fog coming up! This will screen us -from our pursuers!"</p> - -<p>"I am glad of that," said Mary, thankfully.</p> - -<p>"I'm not so sure it will screen us!" said Brand, "them savages are -cunnin' rascals!"</p> - -<p>"Where there's hope," remarked Turk, "there's no use of throwin' -clouds over the same."</p> - -<p>The fog came fast, and finally thickening around the party, they -seemed enclosed in a wall of darkness.</p> - -<p>"Hark!" said Harry, suddenly, as the dip of the canoe's paddles were -heard. "We must get the raft round, and try another course!"</p> - -<p>This, with some difficulty was done, when the clumsy vessel was urged -along to the southward.</p> - -<p>"Now, then, still as mice!" said Harry.</p> - -<p>He was obeyed, those on the raft scarcely breathing.</p> - -<p>A moment later something dark, indistinctly seen, was observed gliding -along past the raft and within twenty fathoms of it!</p> - -<p>It was the canoe!</p> - -<p>The weary hours of night wore away.</p> - -<p>Poor Mary had slept but little, although Turk and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> Harry had made her -a comfortable couch with their jackets.</p> - -<p>Now, as the gray dawn stole upon the waters, the young girl looked -round her with a weary sigh.</p> - -<p>The fog had cleared, the faint rays of the sun were beginning to tinge -the east, but, far and wide, nothing but sky and water were visible.</p> - -<p>Sky and water, and nothing aboard the raft—not even a morsel of bread -or a drop of fresh water.</p> - -<p>Already the girl began to feel the cravings of thirst. With powerful -effort, she endeavored to forget that she felt this want, but in vain.</p> - -<p>The day wore away, the sun went down, night began to settle upon the -waters.</p> - -<p>The men strained their eyes vainly for land or sail.</p> - -<p>Next morning the sufferings of all from thirst were intense. Brand, -pulling forth his bottle of gin, drank deeply, not offering a drop to -the rest.</p> - -<p>Then Turk presented his grog to Harry.</p> - -<p>"Give some to the poor lass!"</p> - -<p>Harry did so. She tasted a few drops, but could not be prevailed upon -to take more.</p> - -<p>Turk looked wistfully at the flask, then thrusting it back, muttered:</p> - -<p>"No—no! it must all be saved for that poor little girl, God bless her -eyes!"</p> - -<p>One—two—three days passed. Still adrift on the wilderness of ocean. -No sail—no land—no fresh water.</p> - -<p>God help the castaways!</p> - -<p>Brand was almost mad. His eyes gleamed like a tiger's—he gnashed his -teeth!</p> - -<p>Harry, too, was scarcely sane! Turk alone remained cool and careful, -although his sufferings were terrible.</p> - -<p>And Mary?</p> - -<p>Alas! poor girl—the flush on her sunken cheek burned deep and -red—her eyes were feverish—her panting breath came thick and -fast—she was too weak to sit up.</p> - -<p>There was no more liquor in Turk's flask. He had given all—every drop -to the young girl.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> - -<p>So there they all were, still drifting along, a burning sun over their -heads, the water almost steaming around them.</p> - -<p>Gradually a sickly, yellowish mist went over the sun.</p> - -<p>Harry watched it a moment, then sprang to his feet, shrieking out:</p> - -<p>"Land, oh!"</p> - -<p>"Where? where?" queried Brand wildly.</p> - -<p>It was pointed out to him, all present saw it now.</p> - -<p>There was surely a misty line—a headland, extending away to the south -and west.</p> - -<p>"God be praised," murmured Mary, faintly; "oh Harry! Harry! we shall -get some fresh water now, and some beautiful fruit!"</p> - -<p>The poor creature smacked her lips and clapped her hands as the spoke.</p> - -<p>How tediously slow were the movements of the raft.</p> - -<p>On it went, however, apparently nearing the land every moment.</p> - -<p>At length it seemed scarcely a mile distant.</p> - -<p>"We will soon be there, now," exclaimed Mary.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a wail went up from the raft, a long, mournful wail—a half -shriek of astonishment, and bitter disappointment.</p> - -<p>The supposed land had suddenly vanished—blown away by a mere puff of -air.</p> - -<p>Alas! it was nothing but a fog bank!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a><br /><br /> - -DRIFTING ON.</h2> - - -<p>As the delusive fog was swept away before the breeze, Brand uttered a -howl, and throwing himself down, dashed his head against one of the -planks of the raft.</p> - -<p>"Eat—drink! I must have something! Come, it is time!"</p> - -<p>And he drew forth a clasp knife, eyeing Mary at the same moment with a -wolfish gleam in the eyes not to be mistaken.</p> - -<p>The bare thought seemed to inspire Harry with a rage almost demoniacal.</p> - -<p>He threw himself upon the man, wrenching the knife from his grasp, and -hurling it into the sea.</p> - -<p>Then he caught the captain by the throat, and seemed on the point of -hurling him overboard.</p> - -<p>Turk, however, interfered.</p> - -<p>"That work won't do, lad! You'd be sorry for it when you got over sich -feelin's as at present agitates you. Let him alone, sir. We'll all -have sufferin' enough yet, I'll warrant ye!"</p> - -<p>Thus prevailed upon, not only by the old sailor but by the mingled -pleadings of Mary, Harry relaxed his hold of the fellow, who, with a -baffled howl, sank down, glaring at the water, as if hoping to see his -knife again rise to the surface.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile a fresh breeze now came along, wrinkling the water, and -falling upon the heated brows and parched lips of the raft's people, -inspiring sensations of relief.</p> - -<p>Harry took off his outside shirt, and with one of the raft poles, thus -formed a sail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> - -<p>"A queer piece of canvass, sartinly," said Tom Turk, mournfully; "but -as there's a to'gallant sail, we may as well have a topsail, do you -see?"</p> - -<p>So saying, he took off his shirt, which was also put upon the pole.</p> - -<p>The impetus thus given to the raft can be hardly credited.</p> - -<p>Away it went, rippling the water, at the rate of about three knots.</p> - -<p>It was nearly sundown, when Tom Turk suddenly balancing himself upon -his toes, was heard singing out:</p> - -<p>"Land, oh!"</p> - -<p>"Another delusion," bitterly exclaimed Harry, not even attempting to -rise from his position by Mary's side.</p> - -<p>"I'm sartin, this time!" exclaimed the old sailor; "fog never looks -like them black things thereaway," pointing westward.</p> - -<p>Harry and Brand were up in a moment, to discover that the old tar had -indeed spoken truth.</p> - -<p>Far away a number of rocks were seen, protruding from the sea.</p> - -<p>"Better no land at all than that," growled Brand, in a disappointed -voice. "We'll find no water there."</p> - -<p>On went the raft, and in due time the rocks were gained. They were -found to be about ten in number, and to rise several feet above the -surface of the sea.</p> - -<p>Brand was the first to spring ashore. Rushing forward, he was suddenly -seen to throw himself down.</p> - -<p>Harry and Turk were soon by his side, to perceive that he had found, -in a hollow of one of the rocks, a quantity of water, evidently lodged -there by a recent waterspout, and prevented from drying up by the -shadow from an overhanging cliff.</p> - -<p>It seemed as if the captain would never get his fill.</p> - -<p>He drank and drank, drawing in the water with a noise like that of a -horse at a trough.</p> - -<p>At last he rose.</p> - -<p>There was a gallon and a half of water still in the rocky basin.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> - -<p>What a contrast now was presented between the conduct of Brand and -that of his shipmates. Turk filled his flask with the pure element, -and presented it to Harry, who at once passed it to Mary.</p> - -<p>"Drink first!" said the poor girl.</p> - -<p>Finding, however, that she could not prevail upon him to do so, Mary -at length drank her fill.</p> - -<p>The effect was magical. Her eyes brightened—the feverish hue seemed -to leave her cheek—she breathed a grateful sigh of relief.</p> - -<p>At the basin, Turk would not drink until his companion had first done -so.</p> - -<p>When all had partaken, there was still a quart of water left.</p> - -<p>Turk went to the raft, and, procuring his flask, in which there still -remained a few drops, he filled it from the hollow, and returning, -presented it to Mary.</p> - -<p>"This is for you, my lass," said he.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Brand filled his bottle, holding about twice as much as -Turk's.</p> - -<p>Neither Harry nor the old seaman said anything; but they exchanged -glances, which said plainly:</p> - -<p>"When we want water for the girl, we will know where to get it."</p> - -<p>Walking about the rocks, Harry suddenly uttered a glad cry.</p> - -<p>In some crevices among the rocks, he beheld a number of fat-looking -fish.</p> - -<p>"It seems as if heaven has sent these especially for our benefit, at -the right time," said the young man, joyfully, as Turk came to his -side.</p> - -<p>The old tar, however, looked sober.</p> - -<p>"It is easy enough," said he, "tellin' how them fish came here."</p> - -<p>"I don't understand you."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, I'll tell you. These rocks, is covered up at high tide. -That is how them fish came to be left here!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> - -<p>"We have our raft," said Harry, joyfully, "so that if the rocks do -overflow, we may thus get more fish!"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, it's all right, so long as the raft holds together," answered -Turk, "which I'm mighty afraid, won't be long," pointing at the -lashings holding the timbers together.</p> - -<p>These lashings were, in fact, much worn; some of them could not long -be made use of.</p> - -<p>"We must try to fix the raft," said Harry, "I dare say we can contrive -it so that we may keep afloat."</p> - -<p>From the raft the hungry men soon turned their attention to the fish.</p> - -<p>These were cooked with a couple of planks—there were plenty to -spare—torn from the raft and split up against the jagged edges of -the rocks, some of the fragments to be afterwards cut by Turk's -pocketknife, and lighted by matches which, sailor-like, the old tar -always carried with him in a small tin box, that they might be kept -dry.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Brand, while taking no part in these preparations, sat like -a hungry tiger eyeing the cooked fish.</p> - -<p>A portion was given to him; in fact, the whole party made a hearty and -palatable meal.</p> - -<p>Now, Mary, her wants having been relieved, again spoke of the volcanic -island.</p> - -<p>"I so wish we could fall in with some sail, which would take us -there," said she. "Oh, if I could only see my dear papa!"</p> - -<p>Brand shrugged his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Hark!" he suddenly screamed, as the night shadows gathered, "I -fancied I heard a gurgling sound!"</p> - -<p>Neither of the rest had heard anything.</p> - -<p>"P'raps it was the wash of the waves against the rock," said Brand.</p> - -<p>Next morning the whole party rose after a slight rest—the men having -stood watch—to perceive that the water had risen nearly to the top of -the first rock.</p> - -<p>"The rock will soon be flooded," remarked Harry.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, so I'm afraid," said Turk. "We had better try to make the -raft stronger."</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, the men having no rope with them, succeeded but poorly.</p> - -<p>"Truth is," said Turk, aside to his friend, "I wouldn't trust -ourselves two days on them planks!"</p> - -<p>At this time the party stood upon one of the rocks.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Mary pointed down at the water, through which, all around -their position, a number of dark-looking fins now were seen, moving -hither and thither.</p> - -<p>"What are those things?" she inquired.</p> - -<p>"Sharks!" answered Harry and Turk, as they simultaneously drew the -young girl upon the raft.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a><br /><br /> - -DRIVEN AWAY.</h2> - - -<p>The water kept rising higher.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the sharks swam all round the rocks, and the raft, now and -then leaping forth, as if to clutch at the party.</p> - -<p>The sight of these ugly-looking creatures, with their long heads, -sharp fins, teeth, and dull, bloodshot eyes, inspired Mary with the -most disagreeable sensations.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Come!" said she, "let us leave this fearful place!"</p> - -<p>Turk shook his head.</p> - -<p>"It is our only salvation, Miss, I'm afraid."</p> - -<p>"Not much of a salvation, either," said Brand, pointing down at -several of the ferocious creatures, which had begun to gnaw at the -lashings of the raft.</p> - -<p>Vainly the men endeavored to drive them away; they clung with steady -tenacity to the lashings, biting with demon-like intelligence at the -rope strands, as if aware that the severing of these would put the -party in their power.</p> - -<p>Finally the seamen were obliged to get off the raft on the rocks, and -draw the planks after them, as the only means of pulling the lashings -away from the teeth of the troublesome monsters.</p> - -<p>The water, however, kept rising, so that it was necessary to get away -as soon as possible.</p> - -<p>The men did their best to strengthen the planks, then once more -launched their raft, actually driven away by the sharks.</p> - -<p>The tendency of the current and the wind now was to the westward.</p> - -<p>"At such a rate," said Turk, "shouldn't wonder if we find ourselves, -before two days, on the volcanic island."</p> - -<p>For this island the party had looked every day, while they were -afloat; but, for some reason or other, since the night of their first -floating away from the island, they had seen nothing of the smoke or -fire of the burning crater.</p> - -<p>The seamen had attributed this fact to the murky atmosphere westward, -shrouding the island from their view, while the raft had meanwhile -been carried further and further from it by the tide.</p> - -<p>When night came, after their leaving the rock, the bearings of which -they endeavored to keep in mind, they again looked for the light of -the volcano. The atmosphere, however, not having yet cleared, they -could see no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> sign of it. Hoping that the current would continue in -this direction and carry them to the island, they watched the west, -keenly yet vainly for a sign of the shore.</p> - -<p>Mary slept little that night. In the morning Harry pointed out to her, -far away, the land, evidently that which they were anxious to reach, -looming up, the mist having cleared.</p> - -<p>That it was the wished-for shore was made evident by a column of -smoke, rising up from the summit of one of the lofty island peaks.</p> - -<p>"Do you think we will reach it?" the young girl inquired.</p> - -<p>"I think so; if the set of the current does not change to the south," -answered Harry.</p> - -<p>He was right; before night the party were close upon the island shore.</p> - -<p>Mary's eyes lighted up with joy. Worn though she was by hardship and -suffering, she could yet feel a thrill of eager, pleasant expectation, -as she gazed at the beautiful shores of this island.</p> - -<p>Scarcely a mile in extent, and not more than half that in breadth, the -shores teemed with the most luxuriant vegetation.</p> - -<p>There were seen tall cocoanuts waving upon a bright, pebbly beach, -rocks covered with flowers and vines, cascades flashing and gleaming -as they glittered in the sunlight, and the broad waters of silver -streams, gliding along through mossy grounds.</p> - -<p>"Beautiful," said Mary, clapping her hands. "Papa! papa! are you -there?"</p> - -<p>She spoke half plaintively, half joyfully, clasping her hands like a -little child.</p> - -<p>Brand turned aside his head. Hardened as he was, the voice went -straight to his ruffian heart, and he felt at that moment as if he -would give worlds had he not committed the fearful crime which, after -all, had been perpetrated for nothing.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<p>Meanwhile Turk stood gazing steadily towards one of the island bays.</p> - -<p>"If I ain't mistaken," said he, "there's an old wreck of some kind -there!"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," cried Harry; "I see it—the wreck of a schooner, if we may -judge by the two stumps of her masts."</p> - -<p>It was almost sundown before the raft touched upon the beach.</p> - -<p>"We will commence our search for traces of your father," said Harry to -Mary, after all had refreshed themselves with luxurious bananas and -the remains of their fish, "by visiting that old wreck. If your parent -be here, he probably has visited the hulk, and perhaps left some sign -of his presence; a pipe, matches or something of that sort."</p> - -<p>"Who knows," said Mary, "but he has taken up his quarters there."</p> - -<p>"I'm afraid you are too hopeful, lass," said old Tom Turk, "'specially -as it was believed by all aboard the <em>Maxwell</em> that the poor old man -was drowned after he fell overboard."</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Brand, shuddering; "I for one believe he was drowned."</p> - -<p>"I will go with you to the wreck," said Mary.</p> - -<p>"No," replied Harry, "it will be too much for you."</p> - -<p>The young girl, however, insisting, the whole party started for the -bay, which they could see from their position.</p> - -<p>A short walk brought them to the wreck.</p> - -<p>It was a schooner, and as had been supposed, with its two masts broken -short off near the deck.</p> - -<p>It lay almost upon its beam ends, firmly wedged in between two rocks.</p> - -<p>By mounting a small, flat rock near the larboard gunwale, the party -easily got aboard. Having done so, they entered the cabin. It was -devoid of all articles of furniture,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> these probably having been taken -away by some of the Indian visitors at the island.</p> - -<p>A candle, however, with an old piece of a clay pipe, a few nails, and -an empty box, were found.</p> - -<p>Turk took the candle, and endeavored to light it. This was done with -some difficulty, after which the party passed into the hold. Here, -saturated with salt water, which had broken in through the bottom of -the schooner, were seen several coils of old rope and a few empty -barrels.</p> - -<p>"All of which," philosophized Turk, "will come in good use, 'specially -if we can find some nails."</p> - -<p>After a long search, he came upon a bag of rusty nails, lying upon one -of the beams.</p> - -<p>"With these," said Turk, "we can manage to make a boat, leastways a -good raft."</p> - -<p>The flickering candle shed lurid light upon the old, creaking beams -of the schooner, as the party vainly searched the hold for signs of -Mary's father.</p> - -<p>"Thought it would be of no use," said Turk; "Poor old man, he was -drowned, you may be sartin."</p> - -<p>"Oh, papa! papa! would that I could find him!" wailed Mary, mournfully.</p> - -<p>Brand shuddered, as he always did, when the girl's father was -mentioned.</p> - -<p>Seating himself on a detached coil of rigging, with his back turned to -the rest of the party, he suddenly fancied he felt a strange, creeping -sensation stealing over his body; a feeling, as if a multitude of -worms, were crawling up his back.</p> - -<p>Instinctively he turned half round, to see his companions, already -leaving the hold, passing into the cabin.</p> - -<p>Some strange instinct prompted him to turn yet further round, when he -beheld a sight which for some moments kept him motionless, unable to -utter a word.</p> - -<p>In the faint light of the candle, streaming into the hold, he saw a -long, lean neck, surmounted by a face as bloodless and apparently -almost transparent, with hollow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> cheeks and protruding eyes, lifted -above a barrel at the other side of the hold.</p> - -<p>A strange looking face it was; a face of unearthly transparency, -apparently quivering like a vapor, while his eyes—those great, -staring eyes, were fixed strangely upon the captain.</p> - -<p>The latter, as mentioned, could not utter a word. To him the -apparition was doubly terrible, as it was that of the man whom he had -pushed overboard from the <em>Maxwell</em>.</p> - -<p>Yes, there it was, sure enough, the face of the unfortunate passenger, -William Manton.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a><br /><br /> - -HAUNTED.</h2> - - -<p>As Brand, like one spell-bound, continued staring at the strange -vision, he beheld the lean throat quivering, and heard issuing -therefrom a gurgling cry exactly like that on the fatal night.</p> - -<p>It was a horrible sound, especially to Brand, who, with one hoarse -scream, bounded backward on beholding the apparition suddenly vanish, -as if melting away in the air.</p> - -<p>At the noise made by Brand, Turk, followed by Harry, rushed back into -the hold.</p> - -<p>"What is the matter?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing," gasped Brand; "nothing at all."</p> - -<p>There were big drops of sweat upon his brow, his eyes protruded, while -great, purple rings spread around them.</p> - -<p>"Nothing," said Turk; "ay, ay, now, but there must be something the -matter with ye, Cap. D'ye feel hungry?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<p>Perceiving that he must make some excuse, Brand puzzled himself trying -to think of some plausible one.</p> - -<p>"The fact is," said he, "I believe what we've gone through has -unstrung my nerves. I thought I felt a snake around my legs, when it -was nothing but a coil of rope."</p> - -<p>His auditors believed him all the more readily that they had by this -time concluded that the man, like most all thoroughly selfish people, -was a coward.</p> - -<p>In a short time they were out of the schooner, when Brand, who had -previously lagged, was now the foremost.</p> - -<p>In a short time they reached a level piece of turf about one hundred -yards from the wreck.</p> - -<p>This they concluded would be a good halting place, at least for the -present, and so they commenced the work of erecting shelters.</p> - -<p>This was soon done, after which they threw themselves down to rest, -Mary, as on the other island, occupying a bower apart from the others.</p> - -<p>The young girl slept but little that night. When she did full asleep, -her slumber was troubled with disagreeable dreams. The roaring of the -volcano whose red gleam could be seen far up through the shrubbery, -shooting from one of the island peaks, mingled with her fancies, and -seemed the report of countless volleys of musketry.</p> - -<p>At morn, after partaking of a frugal breakfast, the party consulted as -to their next course.</p> - -<p>Turk wanted to commence at once upon his boat, Brand, sullen, -glowering and silent, seemed inclined to do nothing, while Mary and -Glenville concluded to walk off by themselves to explore the island.</p> - -<p>Striking through the shrubbery, the young people soon found themselves -at the foot of the peak on which was the volcano.</p> - -<p>They could see the smoke and the flashes of fire shooting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> up, could -also feel the ground shake under them, as if the flames were careering -beneath their very feet. Watching the volcano awhile, they moved on.</p> - -<p>"Let us explore the island thoroughly," said Mary, "we may yet come -upon some trace of my parent."</p> - -<p>"Why is it, Mary," inquired Harry, "that you seem so confident on this -subject?"</p> - -<p>"My father," answered the young girl, "was an excellent swimmer. I -have heard him say he once swam across the East River, New York, while -a boy.</p> - -<p>"Then again the captain informed me that, in falling overboard, it was -found that my parent had carried away with him a plank, which, from -carelessness, had been left hanging loosely over the stern. Now what -more likely than that with the help of the plank, and this island but -two miles to leeward, he should succeed in reaching it?"</p> - -<p>Harry shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Of course," said he, "such things have happened, but I have no idea -that your father reached the island."</p> - -<p>For several hours the two walked over the isle, which they found to -be a beautiful place. There were flowers of almost every hue, clear, -purling streams, rocks, caverns and cascades, while through the green -shrubbery the banana and the breadfruit were visible.</p> - -<p>The wanderers, however, came upon no traces of Mr. Manton, and Harry -could see that his companion's hopes in this respect were almost -extinguished.</p> - -<p>Returning to the spot where the shelters were located, they found Turk -already at work upon his boat, assisted by Brand.</p> - -<p>"You are making good progress," remarked Harry.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," answered Turk, "there's no chance for laziness, now. The -sooner we leave this island the better, accordin' to my notion."</p> - -<p>The old tar spoke solemnly.</p> - -<p>"Ay," said Captain Brand, "that's my opinion. Hark! did ye hear that?"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> - -<p>A roaring, rumbling sound was heard, right under their feet; the -ground trembled violently.</p> - -<p>"It is the subterranean fire of that volcano," said Harry. "I hardly -think there is much danger."</p> - -<p>He said this to quiet the fears of Mary, who turned pale and looked -anxious.</p> - -<p>"To my notion," said Turk, "it's devils a-lightin' their brimstone -right under us, hopin' in that way to catch us. It's plain they're -after some one among us, which I may premise by sayin' ain't me nor -Harry, nor this young lass."</p> - -<p>Brand frowned darkly.</p> - -<p>"How know you that I'm not as good as the rest of you," said he.</p> - -<p>"Honestly speakin', Cap, I don't think you are," exclaimed the old -tar, bluntly.</p> - -<p>"I've always led a good life," said Brand, shunning the great blue -eyes of Mary.</p> - -<p>There was a rumble like thunder under ground, then a report like the -discharge of musketry.</p> - -<p>"The devils is a-firin' off their muskets to celebrate that lie of -yours, Cap," remarked Turk, as he turned to his work.</p> - -<p>The party now felt anxious. The noises under ground continued, the -island shook, while increased volumes of fire shot up from the -volcanic peak.</p> - -<p>Harry now assisted Turk in his work on the boat. There had been found -that morning in the schooner an old hatchet with which Turk had -knocked away a large quantity of timber from the wreck to be conveyed -to the spot where he intended erecting his boat.</p> - -<p>Working all day, the men made good progress.</p> - -<p>Brand worked as hard as the rest. It was not the danger from the -volcano alone that urged him on in his efforts, but the continual -harassing fear, of again beholding that fearful apparition of his -drownded victim.</p> - -<p>At night the aspect of the volcano was terrific. There were the lurid -flames, apparently shooting to the very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> skies, while whole showers -of sparks were thrown out in fiery flakes that filled all the air, -floating along like millions of fireflies over the sea, in the water -of which the were reflected.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the shocks became every moment more frequent, the ground -shaking as if beneath the tramp of armed horsemen.</p> - -<p>Harry had advanced into the thicket a short distance, when he became -aware of a hissing sound, as if thousands of serpents were around him.</p> - -<p>At the same moment, a broad, bright stream of something flashed up -before him, apparently descending towards him with great rapidity.</p> - -<p>Now he comprehended that it was a stream of lava, thrown from the -volcanic crater, and rushing down the side of the steep cliff.</p> - -<p>In fact he had not time to reach the spot where he had left his -companions, when it came hissing and rushing into the thicket, which -he had just left.</p> - -<p>All night a careful watch was kept, the raft with additional timbers -secured to it being in readiness for the party to leave at a moment's -notice.</p> - -<p>Nothing more than the shocks, with the fall of additional lava -occurred, however, to disturb the party.</p> - -<p>"I doubt if anything serious happens, after all," said Harry.</p> - -<p>Turk pointed to a couple of fissures in the side of the cliff.</p> - -<p>"That looks bad," said he; "in my opinion, this island goes in less -than forty-eight hours."</p> - -<p>Good progress was made on the boat this day.</p> - -<p>At night watching the volcano, Mary suddenly uttered a wild cry, and -pointed up towards an overhanging rock beneath the crater.</p> - -<p>"What is it?" was the question.</p> - -<p>"I don't know," said Mary, shuddering, "but just now I am certain I -saw a form appear, and then suddenly vanish upon that shelf of rock."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Are you sure?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>Turk looked solemn; Brand turned deadly pale.</p> - -<p>"It must have been a spirit," said the old tar; "some imp after you, -Cap," he added, looking straight at Brand.</p> - -<p>"Ay, a spirit," muttered the captain, his teeth chattering.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a><br /><br /> - -ON THE LEDGE.</h2> - - -<p>"This must be looked into," said Harry, resolutely. "Who will go with -me to the ledge?"</p> - -<p>"No—no—do not go," pleaded Mary, "see how the fire rages! The peak -may explode before you come down, and you be swallowed up in the -flames!"</p> - -<p>Harry however was determined to go.</p> - -<p>"If nobody will go with me," said he, "I will go alone."</p> - -<p>Mary advanced to his side.</p> - -<p>"I will go with you," said she; "if you are to perish, I will die with -you."</p> - -<p>The young man, however, would not permit the girl to accompany him.</p> - -<p>"If what was seen was mortal," said Turk, "why, then, I'd go with you; -but I don't care to have anything to do with spirits and sich like, -which can give you a poke in the stomach, do you see, and yet you not -be able to square off to 'em."</p> - -<p>"Very well, then, I go alone," said Harry, as he sprang away.</p> - -<p>He had not reached the foot of the cliff, when he felt a hand on his -arm, and turned to behold Turk.</p> - -<p>"Fact is," said the latter, "I won't see ye go alone, but if there's -any fightin' to do with ghosts, you mustn't expect me to help you, for -when I aim at a nose, I like to hit it, which is impossible with the -noses of goblins and sich like, as your fist will go right through -'em."</p> - -<p>The two soon were at the foot of the cliff, which both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> now commenced -to ascend. As they advanced, the rumbling beneath them seemed to -increase, shaking the cliff to its foundation.</p> - -<p>At length they arrived near the ledge, where the heat was almost -unbearable. On one side of them there was a wide cleft, in which a -line of fire was seen, glowing like a red hot iron. The slightest -mis-step on the part of the adventurers in their endeavors to reach -the ledge, must precipitate them into the cleft.</p> - -<p>To get to their destination, they must move along a narrow ridge not -more than two inches wide, with nothing at the side of the rock to -clutch except a slightly rugged surface which must afford them a very -insecure hold.</p> - -<p>"This is dang'rous traveling," remarked Turk, "worse than walkin' on a -railroad track over a rottin bridge."</p> - -<p>The two kept on, carefully making progress, until finally they were -close to the ledge, upon which a sudden spring carried them.</p> - -<p>Winding round the cliff, they could now see another ledge, but no sign -of the strange figure. They clambered the rocky surface, exploring it -on all sides, but saw no sign of what they were after.</p> - -<p>"To my notion," said Turk, "that goblin has gone down to take a -siesta, do you see, preparatory to comin' up agin, which, I take it, -is a good hint fur us to make leg-bail."</p> - -<p>"What is this?" inquired Harry suddenly, stooping and picking up a -singular object.</p> - -<p>It was a cocoanut branch twisted into an odd shape, bearing some -resemblance to a pronged fork.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, now, there's the pitchfork for sartin!" exclaimed Turk; "that -goblin has left his instrumental be—behind him, and we may yet come -upon his tail!"</p> - -<p>"Hark, Turk," said Harry, somewhat sternly, "you must not talk in -that way. This is in fact, no time for joking. See there," pointing -above them as he spoke, to where lurid flames were shooting out from -crevices in the rock, thus preventing their ascent.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> - -<p>Gazing below them they beheld the dark tops of the trees, far beneath.</p> - -<p>There was no means by which they could reach the ground.</p> - -<p>The flames meanwhile burning brighter and longer, every moment, until -finally they scorched the flesh of the two men, whose situation from -the intense heat, was becoming intolerable.</p> - -<p>For a moment they stood looking at each other, puzzled to know what to -do.</p> - -<p>Then a sudden thought flashed across Harry's mind.</p> - -<p>"There are coils of rope in the schooner," said he; "we can start from -here to Brand, who, probably, is watching us, telling him to bring up -and lower to us one of those coils of rope."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, if he ain't afraid," answered Turk.</p> - -<p>The two men shouting with united voices, pronounced the captain's name.</p> - -<p>"Halloa!" was the response.</p> - -<p>"We cannot get back the way we came. Bring us a rope from the -schooner's wreck, and lower it to us."</p> - -<p>Brand shuddered and turned pale.</p> - -<p>Mary, who was near, besought him to hurry.</p> - -<p>"No," he answered, in husky voice, "I do not care to go aboard that -schooner!"</p> - -<p>"Then I will go!" cried Mary, and away she went.</p> - -<p>Bad as he was, Brand was yet man enough not to permit this girl to -undertake such a difficult task.</p> - -<p>He sprang after her, and soon boarding the schooner, advanced with -lighted candle into the hold, casting fearful glances around him.</p> - -<p>He saw nothing, however, to excite alarm, and so seizing a small coil, -he emerged with it on deck.</p> - -<p>He was about climbing over the bulwarks, when, chancing to turn his -head towards the schooner's bows, he fancied he saw the phantom face -of the drowned passenger as it was hastily withdrawn!</p> - -<p>"P'shaw, this is mere imagination," muttered the captain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> as he -sprung over the rail to the beach, where he found Mary anxiously -waiting for him.</p> - -<p>"Quick! make haste!" exclaimed the young girl.</p> - -<p>It almost seemed to Brand, as he encountered the gaze of those wild -eyes, that he beheld a second phantom, so alike were the eyes of -father and daughter.</p> - -<p>Throwing the coil over his shoulders, he hurried along to the cliff -and commenced the ascent, followed by Mary, who, in her anxiety for -her lover's safety, would almost have followed the man into the very -flames.</p> - -<p>In a short time they were at a point, whence the rope might be lowered -to the two imperiled men upon the ledge.</p> - -<p>Brand, therefore, uncoiling the line, lowered the end to them at a -point where the flames could not come into contact with it, fastening -the other part to a spur.</p> - -<p>It was evident, however, that the two must make good speed, else the -strands would become so weakened by the heat that there would be -danger of their giving way.</p> - -<p>The two men found the rope, where they lowered it over the edge of the -rocky shelf, long enough to reach to the ground, about one hundred and -fifty feet beneath them.</p> - -<p>Then Turk commenced the descent, succeeding in reaching the ground -safely.</p> - -<p>By this time the strands were so weakened that Brand was obliged to -haul the rope up, to prevent its parting, and secure another turn -around the rocky spur.</p> - -<p>Then Harry, grasping the lower part, commenced to descend. He had got -within about one hundred and twenty feet of the ground and within a -few feet of the top of one of the trees, when from the branches, the -captain, whose position afforded him a good view of the trees revealed -in the volcano's lurid light, uttered a sudden wild cry, that rang -above the din of the roaring fire.</p> - -<p>Protruding from the foliage of the tree, towards which Harry was being -lowered, the man beheld the long, lean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> neck and ghastly countenance -of the apparition he so dreaded.</p> - -<p>So great was the effect of this vision upon him that he let go the -rope which descended swift as a shot.</p> - -<p>Where now was Harry Glenville?</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a><br /><br /> - -CAPTURED.</h2> - - -<p>Mary, shrieking, peered far over the edge of the rock, vainly looking -for her lover.</p> - -<p>"Killed! killed!" she wailed, wringing her hands. "My God, he is -dashed to pieces on the ground, by your letting go of the rope!"</p> - -<p>"I?" exclaimed the captain, looking wild and half bewildered.</p> - -<p>"Ay, God! it is so!"</p> - -<p>The vision had by this time vanished. Partially recovering his -self-possession, the captain hurried down the steep cliff, following -Mary, who, like a maniac, ran on.</p> - -<p>She soon gained the foot of the precipice, and was hurrying along in -the direction where she expected to find the remains of her lover all -mangled from his fall of sixty feet, when suddenly, she felt some -person grasp her arm, and turning, beheld Brand.</p> - -<p>"Let me go! Why hold me?" screamed the young girl, wildly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> - -<p>"See, there!" he answered, pointing towards the beach, "that is the -reason!"</p> - -<p>Looking in the indicated direction, she beheld, in the lurid glare of -the volcanic fire, a long canoe, by the beach.</p> - -<p>Evidently it was the same which had pursued them on that day when the -two warriors were slain.</p> - -<p>Bent on vengeance, the islanders had not yet given up the pursuit, but -had searched for the fugitives ever since, at last coming upon their -traces.</p> - -<p>Now the forms of the fierce men were seen advancing swiftly in single -file up the beach, on a course, which, had Mary kept on, must have -brought her into contact with them.</p> - -<p>"Never mind," she exclaimed; "let me go to his body! What care I if -they do kill me, so long as I get a glimpse of his form?"</p> - -<p>Brand, however, held her firmly.</p> - -<p>He felt that he should at least partially atone for his crime by -saving the daughter of the man he had sent to his death.</p> - -<p>"Come! come with me! This is madness."</p> - -<p>Mary struggled in vain. Brand drew her along with him into the shadow -of a small cavern in the foot of the cliff.</p> - -<p>"Hark!" he said, "you must not cry out."</p> - -<p>Attracted probably by her cries, several natives soon presented -themselves at the entrance of the cavern.</p> - -<p>Brand, being unarmed, could do nothing. Several spears were pointed at -his heart and that of his companion.</p> - -<p>An islander—a huge fellow with great rings tattooed like bracelets -all over both his arms; evidently a chief, interposed.</p> - -<p>"No strike!" he exclaimed, in broken English, "this's too much quick -death. Best take and chokee slow."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" inquired Brand.</p> - -<p>"Cussem Americanon!" said the chief, fiercely, "kill one two me men! -Mus' pay for dat."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> - -<p>"You are mistaken," answered Brand; "I never killed a man. It wasn't -me."</p> - -<p>"All same you with," answered the islander. "Ho! ho! never get way -from me—me got long canoe."</p> - -<p>The two were dragged to the beach, bound with strong wythes, and were -made to sit down upon the sand.</p> - -<p>Then a brief conversation was held, after which, the chief said -something to several of his men.</p> - -<p>Away they went, climbing up a tree, and procuring several branches.</p> - -<p>These they brought to the chief, who, passing them round the neck of -the prisoners so tightly that both were nearly throttled, then turned -again and spoke to his people.</p> - -<p>Instantly the latter, seizing the two, dragged them up to their necks -into the water, where they were firmly held with the incoming seas -continually breaking over their heads.</p> - -<p>A slow, torturing method this to make way with prisoners. It is -however resorted to by many of the South Sea Island tribes.</p> - -<p>At first the victim easily manages to catch his breath between -whiles. Gradually, however, this becoming harder, and the difficulty -increasing every moment, the wretches are eventually strangled to -death.</p> - -<p>Poor Mary! The hardships and excitement she had lately undergone were -of themselves sufficient to deprive an ordinary woman of her strength. -This young girl, however, had an excellent constitution and, when -occasion required, a strong will. Now the intensity of her anguish -regarding her lover had so worked upon her, that, with this new -torture before her, she became unconscious.</p> - -<p>Heedless of this, however, the native having charge of her, still held -her upright in the water, until the chief again interfered.</p> - -<p>"Makee muchee now long," said he.</p> - -<p>The two were drawn out to the beach, Brand, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> being informed -that the disagreeable ceremony would before morning, be repeated, -until he was drownee, drownee, drownee.</p> - -<p>Soon after Mary came to her senses. At first somewhat bewildered, she -soon remembered all.</p> - -<p>"Dead! dead!" she moaned, "he is dead."</p> - -<p>The natives heeded not her sufferings. On the contrary, they seemed to -gloat over her distress.</p> - -<p>An hour wore on when the prisoners were again led into water, the seas -breaking high, continually went over their heads.</p> - -<p>Mary soon drew her breath with difficulty—her brain went round and -round, she felt that she was dying.</p> - -<p>In fact, life must have deserted her in a few minutes, but for a -singular interposition, the phantom-like figure which has been -mentioned, appearing suddenly on the branch of a tree and waving its -arms to the natives in a frantic manner.</p> - -<p>"Berch, hounds and dogs!" it exclaimed in hollow voice; "what would ye -do. I forbid this work. Terrible misfortune will attend ye, if ye keep -on thus persecuting those prisoners."</p> - -<p>Brand, hearing that voice, turned his head.</p> - -<p>As he did so, the form suddenly vanished.</p> - -<p>The natives stood looking at each other in surprise. Brand noticing -their astonishment, thought he might turn it to good account.</p> - -<p>No other consideration but that of saving his life could have tempted -him to speak of the vision of the murdered passenger to a living soul.</p> - -<p>"Indians," said he, "I would at once speak to your chief."</p> - -<p>The men who held him understood him sufficiently to make known his -request to their leader, who, forthwith, appeared floundering through -the water.</p> - -<p>"What want? Speak quick!"</p> - -<p>"Well, then," said Brand, shuddering, "he whom you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> saw just now among -the trees, was no mortal vision. It is a phantom!"</p> - -<p>"How know you that?"</p> - -<p>"If the chief will take me a little ways off I will tell him," said -Brand, not caring to have the young girl hear what he intended to say.</p> - -<p>The chief did as requested, when Brand explained, saying that the -phantom was that of a passenger who had accidentally fallen overboard -from a vessel aboard which he (Brand), was third officer.</p> - -<p>The superstitious natives are prone to believe weird stories, and the -chief was no exception to the rule.</p> - -<p>To his awe-stricken followers he at once explained what he had -learned, when it was unanimously agreed that the lives of the two -prisoners should be spared, at least for the present.</p> - -<p>No good, the natives all agreed, could come of their disobeying the -injunctions of a spirit.</p> - -<p>Mary and Brand were therefore taken and seated near a bright fire, -which had been kindled for comfort by their enemies.</p> - -<p>They were treated to cooked breadfruit, cocoanut sauce, and other -delicacies of the South Sea Islanders. Brand ate heartily, but poor -Mary, almost maddened by her grief, would not even look at what was -proffered her.</p> - -<p>"Harry is dead! dead!" was the continual cry of her anguished soul.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the whole island was rocking like a floating ship. Showers -of fire, roaring thunder, flew from the volcanic peak.</p> - -<p>The natives looked at each other. Presently the chief spoke.</p> - -<p>"The islee will be swallowed in fire," said he; "the spirit which -spoke, did not tell right. It is a bad spirit, which Islander must not -mind. It said if Islander spare white men's life, no harm come. See! -here is harm. The island will be lost before Islander can find all -their foes."</p> - -<p>Such was the purport of the chief's words, uttered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> however, in a more -incomprehensible manner than we have shown.</p> - -<p>"Yes," continued the speaker, "so we say we must killee! killee," -pointing at the two prisoners; "must killee quickee, no slow now."</p> - -<p>He held a brief consultation with some of his men, four of whom now -advanced toward the girl and Brand, each of which was lifted between a -couple.</p> - -<p>"Quickee—go!" screamed the chief, when each of the pair, with their -burdens commenced rapidly scaling the sides of the steep ascent.</p> - -<p>Good need it now seemed, was there of their making swift speed.</p> - -<p>They kept on with all possible dispatch, eventually pausing upon a -lofty spire, far up on the very top of the mountain.</p> - -<p>This spur, rising to a height of about forty feet from the edge of -the volcanic crater, overlooked the chasm of fire, which, like the -infernal lake itself, lay at its base, shooting its forked tongues of -roaring, hissing flame high in air!</p> - -<p>And now the prisoners comprehended the fate intended for them, for the -natives driving them to and fro, preparing to fling them into that -lurid, roaring, crackling sea of fire!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a><br /><br /> - -WALLED IN.</h2> - - -<p>To repeat a previous question.</p> - -<p>Where now was Harry Glenville?</p> - -<p>On feeling himself descending, after Brand let go of the rope to which -he was clinging, the young man, instinctively throwing out his arms, -was fortunate enough to grasp the branch of the tree through which his -falling form was crashing.</p> - -<p>To this branch he clung, swinging a hundred feet above the ground.</p> - -<p>Every moment he expected that the branch, which was a slender one, and -which he held near the extremity, would part. He could hear it crack, -every time he swung.</p> - -<p>Above him, faintly revealed in the lurid light, he could meanwhile -see a larger and stronger branch, which he hoped he might, by a -sudden upward stretching of an arm, succeed in grasping. Still there -was danger that he might miss his grasp, when he would certainly be -precipitated upon the ground below.</p> - -<p>Still considering whether or not to make the attempt, he suddenly -heard the cheery voice of Tom Turk:</p> - -<p>"Hold on hard, lad, and I'll be up there to help ye, in the tyin' of a -square knot!"</p> - -<p>"Make haste!" exclaimed Harry, "as I expect, every minute, that the -branch I hold will give way."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay. Keep up a good heart. My climbin' days ain't quite over yet!"</p> - -<p>As he spoke, Turk commenced rapidly ascending the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> tree, running up -the trunk with the squirrel-like dexterity of a true sailor.</p> - -<p>He had with him the end of the fallen rope, thrown over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>In a short time, he was upon the brunch, just above the swinging form -of his friend.</p> - -<p>The latter's weight had nearly parted the branch, strips of which were -already beginning to peel off.</p> - -<p>"Make haste, Turk!" repeated the young man.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, lad! here's the rope!" cried Turk, lowering to his friend the -end, to which he had fastened a bowline hitch; "jest slip that over -your head, and under one of your arms, and I'll have ye up in half a -minute."</p> - -<p>Harry promptly complied, not a moment too soon, for with a crash, the -branch now gave way.</p> - -<p>The young man would have gone with it, in spite of the bowline hitch, -which he had not yet been able to properly secure, but for his -throwing up both hands and grasping the rope.</p> - -<p>Turk, who had taken a turn round the upper branch, was thus enabled to -draw him safely up.</p> - -<p>In a few seconds both men were on the ground, about to move in the -direction of the base of the cliff to meet Mary and Brand, when they -beheld the forms of the natives, stealing along from their canoe.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, now!" whispered Turk, "this is calamitous."</p> - -<p>"We must save Mary at all hazards," exclaimed Harry, impulsively, as -he bounded forward.</p> - -<p>"S—sh!" whispered Turk, "jest see there! They have got the poor gal -and that Brand already," pointing to the natives, lugging of their -prisoners.</p> - -<p>Harry would have sprang onward unarmed as he was, to attack the two -savages, but for the cooler and more prudent Turk.</p> - -<p>"Hold!" he whispered, grasping his friend's jacket, "can't do anything -in a hurry, which do you see, will salle all."</p> - -<p>Even as he spoke, another party of savages were observed, approaching -them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Now, then, fur scuddin!" said Turk, "no use stayin' here to be -speared to death, which is a most uncomfortable way of dyin', -'specially when you are afterwards b'iled in a pot for the blueskins' -dinner."</p> - -<p>He drew the young man along to a clump of bushes near the base of an -enormous tree.</p> - -<p>"I've sighted this tree before," said he, "which I know is holler. -It's big enough to hold you and me. Afterwards we can see to the gal, -if there's any way to save her, whereas if we should try now, we'd -only be killed, which sartinly would be a poor way for keepin' the -lass."</p> - -<p>Harry saw the sense of this remark at once. With the old seaman, he -crouched in the bushes.</p> - -<p>"Well have to get into the tree, mole fashion," said Turk, "see'n' as -the hole leading to the inside of it, is scooped out underneath."</p> - -<p>So saying he displaced some bushes, and bade his friend crawl into the -aperture thus revealed.</p> - -<p>Harry did so, and was soon followed by Turk.</p> - -<p>In the hollow tree, the two now glanced up, to see through an opening -in the trunk, broken half way off, the lurid gleam of the volcanic -fire.</p> - -<p>"Here we are, moles as is moles!" exclaimed Turk.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the shouts of the savages, who, it was evident, had now -come upon the footprints of the two seamen on the ground, were heard -outside of the tree.</p> - -<p>"They will of course discover us, after all!" said Harry, "and we will -have to die. Better to have fallen in defense of Mary."</p> - -<p>Turk scratched his head. By the red gleam, shooting down into the -hollow, Harry could see a troubled expression upon the old seaman's -face.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," he muttered, at length, "the Turks never was good at -strategic p'nts. I had a grandfather, who, to save himself from a mad -bull, throwed himself, in tryin' to leap over it, partly upon the -creatur's horns, which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> penetratin' the seat of his breeches, held -him expended in that way until he was relieved by friends!"</p> - -<p>The old tar had scarcely thus delivered himself, when, chancing to -glance down, he beheld the tattooed face of a savage, thrust under the -trunk of the tree, peering up at him.</p> - -<p>Before he could utter a word, however, the face was withdrawn.</p> - -<p>Next moment a sound, as of men busy at work piling something around -the tree, was heard.</p> - -<p>Soon after all was still.</p> - -<p>The two men held a consultation. Doubtless the savages were somewhere -not far off, waiting for them to emerge.</p> - -<p>Nevertheless, they determined to make an attempt to escape from their -present retreat.</p> - -<p>Turk was the first to stoop for the purpose of passing out, when an -exclamation broke from his lips.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter?" inquired Harry.</p> - -<p>"Matter enough!" was the reply; "we are walled in with arth so that we -can't get out!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a><br /><br /> - -IN THE TREE.</h2> - - -<p>For a moment the two stood eyeing each other, with looks of dismay.</p> - -<p>"Can't we burrow our way out?" queried the young man.</p> - -<p>"I'm afraid not. Them rascals knowed what they were doin' when they -fastened us up. In my opinion, we are to be left in this hollow tree -to be swallered up with the island when it goes!"</p> - -<p>Harry glanced up. The opening in the top of the trunk was about -fifteen feet above them. There was no way for them to reach it!</p> - -<p>The young man bowed his face on his hand.</p> - -<p>"I would have been willing—would have cheerfully died," said he, -"in helping poor Mary; but to perish far away from that girl without -having lifted a hand in her defense is very mortifying!"</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," said Turk, "and this is a lesson to me never to give advice -in the futur'—if there be any futur' left for me on this arth! I'm as -sorry as you can be, that I got you to give up follerin' the lass at -once!"</p> - -<p>For several moments the two men stood, glancing up through the opening -in the trunk, which being directly beneath the volcano, afforded them -a good view of it.</p> - -<p>The huge crater was spouting showers of flame and sparks, which seemed -to increase in quantity every moment.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> - -<p>Meanwhile the roaring noise of the subterranean fires was becoming -louder. The ground shook with the thunder in its bosom, until the very -tree in which the two men were ensconced began to tremble.</p> - -<p>"The 'castrophy' must soon take place!" exclaimed Turk; "wish you'd -l'arn me to say a few prayers before we are swallered up! That is," -continued the old tar, "I did l'arn my catechism, once upon a time, -but it's so long ago that the idee has been blowed out of my head by -the squalls and gales I've weathered, do you see!"</p> - -<p>Harry answered not. His mind was full of bitter reflections, in the -midst of which his Mary, suffering in the hands of the savages, -occupied a prominent part.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we may burrow out of this!" he exclaimed, at length, "at all -events, let us try!"</p> - -<p>So saying, he stooped, and went to work with hands and nails.</p> - -<p>He made some progress, but he had not dug a foot, when his hands came -into contact with a hard substance, which resisted all his efforts to -move it.</p> - -<p>It was a heavy stone, almost a rock in size, which had been shoved -against the opening.</p> - -<p>"No hope!" he said, despairingly.</p> - -<p>As he spoke, a wild yell was heard without, followed by the noise of -approaching steps.</p> - -<p>The steps drew nearer; there was a halt made alongside the tree, then -followed a noise of dry branches being dragged along and piled round -the trunk.</p> - -<p>"Ay! ay!" exclaimed Turk, aghast, "them heathens ain't even goin' to -give us a chance to die in them underground flames, but is agoing to -pile faggots and burn us at once."</p> - -<p>Harry shuddered.</p> - -<p>Then the thought occurred to him that perhaps Mary had perished in a -similar manner.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the crackling of flames, betokened that the old tar -had guessed aright.</p> - -<p>The fire was wreathing and twining around the trunk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> of the tree, the -inside of which was every moment growing hotter.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," moaned Turk, despondingly, "we are all a-goin' to be baked -alive, as if we were two clams instead of humanized bein's!"</p> - -<p>Hotter became the seamen's narrow quarters every moment. Tongues of -flames were now seen creeping through crevices in the trunk.</p> - -<p>The sap oozed with a hiss like a serpent's, while the smoke entering -the hollow, almost suffocated the occupants.</p> - -<p>Heated, almost blinded, their flesh scorched, the sufferings of the -twain were becoming fearful.</p> - -<p>In the lurid glare each could see the eyeballs of the other rolling -wildly in his head, and hear his panting breath drawn with difficulty.</p> - -<p>"This is intolerable!" gasped Harry; "would that the rascals would -spear us, and thus at once put an end to our torment."</p> - -<p>There seemed, however, no probability of their doing this.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile there were none of the manifestations of exultation and -triumph peculiar to the North American savages.</p> - -<p>Nothing was to be heard above the din of the roaring and crackling -flames, save a low, guttural croaking of quiet satisfaction, such as -might have been uttered over chunks of roast beef cooking on a spit.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," muttered Turk, who for some time had been dancing up and -down with pain, "I feel as if the gravy was already a-oozing out of my -body."</p> - -<p>As he spoke, he chanced to glance upward, when he was startled by -the apparition of a face, half concealed by a great green leaf, -(protruding downward from under an old cap) thrust through the opening -in the top of the trunk, while the rest of the body was screened by -the thick branches around it.</p> - -<p>"Hist! Stand by! I'll save you both if I can!" said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> the stranger in a -shrill, penetrating whisper, "on one condition!"</p> - -<p>For several moments the two men were so surprised that they could only -stand motionless, looking up at the intruding face, without uttering a -word.</p> - -<p>Harry was the first to speak.</p> - -<p>"Who are you! How came you there?"</p> - -<p>"It don't matter. I am only half human, at any rate. On one condition -I said I'd save you."</p> - -<p>"Name it, name it, my man!" cried Turk, "and you'll see how quick we'll -comply. But I'd think the savages would see you up there?"</p> - -<p>"No; the branches and leaves are too thick. The leaf over my face -hides it from them while my body is in shadow."</p> - -<p>"Name that ere condition of yours then, quick!" exclaimed Turk.</p> - -<p>"Well, it is that you save my money!"</p> - -<p>"Your money?"</p> - -<p>"Yes I cannot get to it now. I beg you will save me my precious money."</p> - -<p>"Where is it!" inquired Turk, "if you'll jist tell me that p'raps I -can——"</p> - -<p>"It's in a little cleft in the right side of the trunk in a bag. You -may feel it by putting your hand there. Oh! my money—my precious -money! that must not be sacrificed!"</p> - -<p>Turk felt along the trunk until finally his hand struck a deep cleft -notched in the wood, when he felt the bag and drew it forth.</p> - -<p>It emitted a clinking sound.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, that's it!" whispered the stranger; "now unfasten the cord -from it, and throw the end up to me, when I will draw you safely out -of the hollow!"</p> - -<p>Turk instantly proceeded to do as directed. Unwinding the cord which, -though small in thickness, was as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> tough as a clothes-line, he was -glad to perceive that it was long enough to reach to the top of the -trunk.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, in spite of his sufferings, he could not forbear peeping -into the bag, which, he at once perceived was full of shining pieces -of gold.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a><br /><br /> - -OUT OF THE TREE.</h2> - - -<p>"What avail is all this?" said Harry; "it is likely the savages have -already heard our conversation. Besides, they will certainly see us, -when we are drawn up out of the top of the trunk."</p> - -<p>"It ain't likely they've heard us," said Turk, "as there's sich an -infernal din with the roarin' of the fire here and the volcano above; -but as to their seein' us, I dare say that may happen."</p> - -<p>"Throw me the cord—quick!" cried the stranger, "and let me haul you -up here with my precious gold!"</p> - -<p>Turk threw the end of the cord.</p> - -<p>"You may go first," said Harry to the old tar.</p> - -<p>"Not a bit of it, lad!" answered Turk; "I ain't one of that sort, do -ye see! There's no hurry for me. Your life is more valuable than that -of sich an old lubber as your humble servant, Tom Turk."</p> - -<p>Harry, however was firm.</p> - -<p>He fastened the end of the line quickly under the armpits of the -sailor, and ordered the stranger to haul away.</p> - -<p>Assisted by his own efforts and by the pulls from the man above, Turk -soon was drawn through the opening.</p> - -<p>Then a savage yell proclaimed that he was seen, and the trick to -effect of his release discovered by the natives.</p> - -<p>"Quick, my lad!" shouted Turk, throwing down the line to his friend, -as several spears whizzed round his head.</p> - -<p>"Give me my gold!" almost shrieked the stranger, as he snatched the -bag from the old seaman's pocket, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> thrust it into his own, "and -stand by to follow me, if you'd escape the natives."</p> - -<p>"Jist hold on a minnit!" said Turk, clutching the man by the arm; -"I don't know who you be; whether you be humanized or t'otherwise, -but one thing is sartin, it's playin' us a very scaly trick fur you -a-tryin' to get off, when you know that the life of a feller creatur' -is still to be saved."</p> - -<p>"Quick then, quick!" screamed the stranger, "don't you perceive that -the natives are going to fling more spears?"</p> - -<p>"They can't hurt ye, if you ain't human," said Turk—then he added, -eyeing the stranger curiously, "if you have what's tarmed a caudal -canpendage, that is a tail, do you see, as all non-human bein's has, I -wish you'd show it, so that I may know whose acquaintance I have the -honor of makin."</p> - -<p>"Whiz! whiz! buz-z-z!" came more spears, passing within a few inches -of the speaker's head.</p> - -<p>While talking, Turk had not neglected his friend, who by this time had -passed the line round his breast and given the word to haul.</p> - -<p>The two pairs of arms soon had him up, when turning, the stranger was -seen running along a branch extending from the burning tree to another.</p> - -<p>"There goes either the devil or a spook!" said Turk; "it's the -queerest creatur' I ever saw, thinkin' of its gold under sarcumstances -like the present."</p> - -<p>"Follow me, follow me, if you would escape," the man was now heard -screaming out at the top of his voice.</p> - -<p>The seamen obeyed, gliding after the figure, which seemed to dart -along with the speed of a squirrel.</p> - -<p>Having gained the other tree, the strange guide descended half way, -then, by a drooping branch, swung himself quickly to the ground.</p> - -<p>Harry and his friend followed, the twain being pursued by the savages.</p> - -<p>Every nook and corner seemed familiar to the leader.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> - -<p>On he went, dashing away with a speed which rapidly widened the -distance between him and his followers.</p> - -<p>By powerful efforts, however, the two men continued to keep in sight.</p> - -<p>Finally Harry paused. The steps of the savages were heard crashing -along but a short distance behind him.</p> - -<p>"Come on!" cried Turk, seizing the other's arm.</p> - -<p>"No," answered the latter, "the man is evidently carrying us further -and further from Mary. For my part, I shall endeavor to ascertain the -fate of the girl, if I die for it."</p> - -<p>All efforts of his friend to persuade him to keep on proved unavailing.</p> - -<p>"Well, one thing is sartin," said the old tar, "where you go, there, -sir, Tom Turk, who never yet deserted a chum, goes too!"</p> - -<p>"Thank you," answered Glenville, squeezing the arm of his friend.</p> - -<p>Stepping to one side, and crouching in the shrubbery, Turk persuaded -Harry to do the same.</p> - -<p>At this time, these two men were concealed from the savages by a high -rock, round the angle of which they had passed.</p> - -<p>The natives, when they made the turn, believing that the two had kept -on, continued the pursuit in a straight line, seeing the form of the -strange guide, faintly visible in the far distance.</p> - -<p>When the savages had passed, making straight for the burning peak, -Harry and his companion rose.</p> - -<p>"Which way now?" inquired Turk.</p> - -<p>"Towards the beach. There we may find Mary, either dead or alive, as -there, it would seem, the greater number of the savages are gathered."</p> - -<p>Accordingly, they moved toward the beach, cautiously keeping in the -shadow of the shrubbery, when they finally found themselves within -about fifteen feet of a spot occupied by a dozen warriors, all of -whom stood upright,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> their glances bent upon the steep sides of the -volcanic cliff.</p> - -<p>"What is that?" inquired Harry, suddenly, trembling in every limb.</p> - -<p>"There are savages speeding up the cliff, and if I mistake not, I -just saw the gleam of a light dress, as if the rascals were bearing a -female between them."</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," said Turk. "I saw it too, and it was sartinly a most -melancholy sight."</p> - -<p>"That woman that we saw could of course be none other than Mary -Manton," said Harry. "Come, we will at least die fighting for the -girl."</p> - -<p>Before his friend could say a word, he was speeding along toward the -cliff, still keeping in the shadow of the shrubbery, so that the -natives could not see him.</p> - -<p>Now he and his companion eventually arrived at the base of the cliff.</p> - -<p>The natives in pursuit of the guide had, of course got there before -them, and were now seen speeding up the steep ascent in hot pursuit of -the strange man.</p> - -<p>"Come," said Harry; "come!"</p> - -<p>As he spoke, he sped straight up the cliff.</p> - -<p>"Well," muttered Turk, as he panted for breath, "this is hot work for -sich old timbers as I be. The lad won't give me a chance to breathe. -I may as well make up my mind to go to etarnity, the road to which -is where we are now goin'; so I'll jist make one chaw of this plug," -pulling from his pocket a great piece of tobacco, the whole of which -he at once thrust into his right cheek.</p> - -<p>On he went, until suddenly he uttered a loud cry, as Harry disappeared -from his sight.</p> - -<p>Believing that the young man had fallen into some one of the deep -chasms with which the cliff abounded, he hurried on, and was somewhat -relieved to perceive that the object of his fears had merely fallen -into a small rocky pit, with the exception of a few slight bruises, -hurting himself but little.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> - -<p>Springing into the pit, the old tar assisted his prostrate friend to -his feet.</p> - -<p>At the same moment, clapping his hand to his brow, and uttering a wild -cry, the young man pointed far above him.</p> - -<p>Gazing in the indicated direction, Turk uttered a sort of despairing -grunt, and sat down on a flat, protruding shelf of rock, as if -completely overcome at the spectacle which now met his gaze.</p> - -<p>This spectacle, which has already been described, was none other -than that of the young girl and Captain Brand, far above the -two adventurers, distinctly revealed in the lurid gleam of the -fire-spouting crater, being swung back and forth for a fling into the -red-flaming jaw of the horrible chasm!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a><br /><br /> - -THE FIRE-CHASM.</h2> - - -<p>The fearful situation in which she now found herself was enough to -appal a stouter hear than that of Mary Manton.</p> - -<p>Poor girl! after all the hardships she had undergone, to find herself -about to meet such a frightful doom, was, indeed, a trying ordeal for -her delicate nerves.</p> - -<p>Shriek after shriek passing her lips, mingled with the hoarsest cries -of Captain Brand, and the triumphant screams of the savages, who, -their forms and faces lighted by the volcanic fire, might well have -been compared to the demons of the infernal regions!</p> - -<p>Twenty times at least, as if to torture them by the fearful suspense, -the natives swung their victims before they made the final one to -throw them into the yawning chasm!</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, Turk and his friend had started afresh, and were fast -scaling the sides of the cliff.</p> - -<p>The mountain was now fairly reeling with the inner convulsions. The -lava had swollen on one side to a broad stream, rushing, hissing and -streaming down the side of the steep cliff.</p> - -<p>In fact the two men as they mounted, were constantly obliged to dodge -to one side, to escape contact with some of the diverging rivulets.</p> - -<p>On they went, now tottering on the verge of some deep gorge, and now -scaling a narrow passage between enormous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> rocks, which reeled as if -about to fall upon and crush them.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the air was full of strange noises.</p> - -<p>Hissing, roaring and booming, the report of bursting deluges of fire -came out from the bosom of the mountain.</p> - -<p>The fire spread fast—the sky itself seemed aflame with the warning of -impending destruction.</p> - -<p>"This is sartinly the most excitin' moment in my life," said Turk, who -now gasped at every step. "I'm afraid that even when we git up to the -summit where that poor gal is, there won't be any strength left in my -bones to help the poor creature!"</p> - -<p>"Come on!" answered Harry, in ringing tones. "On! on!"</p> - -<p>And on they went, scaling the burning mountain with almost incredible -speed.</p> - -<p>At one time the view of the forms upon the summit was hidden by an -intruding rock.</p> - -<p>"Do you see her, now?" Harry anxiously inquired.</p> - -<p>"No!" answered Turk, as he vainly endeavored to catch a glimpse of the -fire-lighted forms.</p> - -<p>"Alas! It was a bad day for poor Mary, when she set out in search of -her lost father," exclaimed Harry; "poor girl! brave girl!"</p> - -<p>"Ay, and a wild-goose chase, it has proved so far, and will prove a -wild-gooser before its over."</p> - -<p>Continuing on, the two men finally came to a point, where two paths, -diverging between high rocks, met their gaze.</p> - -<p>They were undecided which of these to take.</p> - -<p>"My God! the girl will meet her fate, before we can get to her!" -exclaimed Harry, as he dashed into the path on the right. "Come on, -Turk! This path ascends and must be the right one, as the other seems -to incline!"</p> - -<p>Turk shook his head.</p> - -<p>"P'raps you're right, and p'raps not!" he said. "If it hadn't been for -them lava-streams, we might have kept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> straight ahead, and been at the -end of our cruise in more senses than one, before the present moment."</p> - -<p>The two kept on, but the further they went, the more puzzled they -became, as the path they pursued soon led them among a perfect -labyrinth of rocks, some of them overarched so that, with the -exception of a lurid gleam of light, here and there, they were left in -total darkness.</p> - -<p>The labyrinth became more difficult.</p> - -<p>Tangled bushes, vines, shrubs, and the roots of decayed trees impeded -their way every moment.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the agony of the young man, searching hither and thither for -some way out of his difficulty, was terrible. The sweat came out upon -his brow, his veins seemed on fire with feverish excitement.</p> - -<p>He knew all the time he was thus searching that Mary's doom must soon -be sealed, if already she had not been hurled into the whirlpool of -fire!</p> - -<p>Turk also vainly exerted himself; but the more the two endeavored -to find a way out of the labyrinth, the more hopelessly they became -entangled.</p> - -<p>At length they found themselves at the mouth of a cavern. The floor -of this cave seemed to extend downward, while far ahead of them, they -beheld the fiery gleam of the volcano.</p> - -<p>"This is our way," shouted Turk. "Come, lad, come!"</p> - -<p>He dove into the cavern, followed by his friend, both believing that -when they should arrive at the terminus of this sloping tunnel, they -would find a way to the top of the cliff!</p> - -<p>Encouraged by this hope, Harry sped on with a swiftness, which soon -carried him far beyond his friend.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes he had gained the further end of the cavern, when -Turk heard his wild despairing cry ringing out like that of a wounded -wolf.</p> - -<p>In a moment he was by the young man, who pointed upward.</p> - -<p>When Turk also perceived that they had made their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> way to this point, -only to be aggravated by another sight of the tatooed forms of the -savages and their intended victims, so far above them that they could -not hope to reach the spot.</p> - -<p>In fact they now found themselves in one of those deep gorges, whose -sides were too steep to be ascended, but which commanded a view of the -raging fire.</p> - -<p>Yes, there was the girl and Brand, still being swung hither and -thither that their torments might yet be prolonged.</p> - -<p>The sight almost drove Harry mad. He clenched his fists, and -compressed his lips, as if, by the exertion of a strong will alone, he -hoped to prevent the accomplishment of the fearful deed.</p> - -<p>As to Turk, he danced about in his excitement performing a sort of -fantastic hornpipe, while all the time the tears streamed down his -wrinkled cheeks.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," he moaned, "it is too bad. If I could lay down my life a -thousand times for that poor gal, God knows I would willingly do it."</p> - -<p>The scream of the imperiled one now rang down the cliff penetrating -the hearts of the two men like a knife.</p> - -<p>"Good God!" cried Harry; "oh, Turk! Turk! let us see if we cannot yet -get to her, before the demons do their foul work."</p> - -<p>The increased thunder of the volcano seemed to mock his voice. The air -and sky reddened by the lurid gleam, seemed filled with a crimson mist -rolling in clouds round the swaying forms, and shrouding them from -sight.</p> - -<p>As Harry spoke, Turk pressed his forehead against the rocky side of -the gorge, while he pointed upward at the girl, whose hair, catching -the red gleam, seemed another shower of fire.</p> - -<p>"No use, Harry. See, they are giving the last swing! I know by the -voice of that native who has jist howled out the order."</p> - -<p>In fact so shrill and piercing and savage was the islander's cry that -its import could not well be mistaken.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> - -<p>Like the croaking shriek of a ravenous sea-bird, it came grating down -the sides of the rock.</p> - -<p>"My God! there she goes!" screamed Harry; "Mary! Mary!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a><br /><br /> - -UNEXPECTED.</h2> - - -<p>With that cry from Harry Glenville was mingled the despairing scream -of the young girl.</p> - -<p>The two savages holding her, had swung her forward with great impetus -to fling her into the red gulf, when a wild form suddenly came -bounding forward from the summit of an overhanging rock, snatched the -girl from their arms and made off with her with deer-like speed.</p> - -<p>To explain this, it must be remembered that the gaze of all the -savages present, had been concentrated upon the two intended victims, -so that they had known nothing of the approach of the intruder, who, -it need scarcely be told, was the singular island guide.</p> - -<p>This person, probably from his greater familiarity with the mountain -paths, had distanced his pursuers who, like Harry Glenville and Turk, -soon became puzzled as to their course, and thus lost track of the -fugitive.</p> - -<p>Coming upon the fearful scene near the fire chasm, the strong man had -found it easy to leap from his position, snatch the girl from the -already relaxed grasp of her tormentors, and make considerable headway -before the natives could recover sufficiently from their surprise to -start in pursuit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> - -<p>So astonished were all that the two who held Captain Brand, allowed -the latter to disengage himself from their grasp and make off at a -speed accelerated to almost incredible swiftness by his fears.</p> - -<p>The course taken by Brand led him at right angles with that followed -by the stranger, so that the pursuers were obliged to separate.</p> - -<p>This separation gave the fugitives an advantage, especially the -strange guide, who seemed familiar with every nook and corner of the -mountain.</p> - -<p>On he went, seeming to carry his burden with a strength probably -caused by some powerful excitement, although his gray hair, streaming -back from under the broad leaf, partially concealing his face, -proclaimed his advanced years.</p> - -<p>Finally, however, he began to stagger beneath his burden, which, it -was evident, was too much for him.</p> - -<p>Seemingly bent, however, upon gaining some particular point, he kept -on until he came to a small, dark hollow, between a number of jagged -rocks, where he crawled therein.</p> - -<p>"Hist!" he muttered, as the young girl opened her mouth, apparently on -the point of speaking. "Not a word! I have my money! money! money!" he -added, in the same penetrating whisper, as he thrust his hand in his -pocket and felt the jingling bag.</p> - -<p>The man had been mistaken about Mary's wishing to speak.</p> - -<p>The poor girl's eyes were closed, her cheek as white as marble. She -had fainted at the moment when the natives were at the point of -flinging her to her destruction.</p> - -<p>Seemingly unaware of this circumstance, her preserver, crouching down -without again looking at her, listened intently, probably for the -steps of his pursuers.</p> - -<p>These steps, drawing nearer, finally went past.</p> - -<p>The fugitive had served the natives a trick. Unseen by them, owing to -an intruding point of rock, when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> crawled into the small cave, they -had passed him, believing he had gone on, far ahead.</p> - -<p>He waited full a quarter of an hour, then, emerging, continued on.</p> - -<p>At a place where two narrow paths diverged, he came upon Brand, -crouching in the angle of a rock.</p> - -<p>Here the light was indistinct.</p> - -<p>"Who are you who have saved this girl?" inquired the captain, coming -forward.</p> - -<p>"Don't question me," answered the other, "but help me with this girl."</p> - -<p>Brand started as suddenly. Then, recovering his self-possession, -although trembling in every limb, he complied with the request.</p> - -<p>"My money—my money—ha! ha! I <em>have that</em> safe!" muttered the -stranger, as they proceeded.</p> - -<p>"Your <em>what</em>?" gasped Brand, fairly turning as white as the senseless -girl.</p> - -<p>"My money," was the answer—"all safe!"</p> - -<p>On they went, following a path which led them by the tunnel through -which Harry and Turk had previously passed, from which they were -emerging at this very moment.</p> - -<p>Brand started back.</p> - -<p>"You safe?" he exclaimed, staring at Harry, as if at a ghost.</p> - -<p>"Ay," answered the young man.</p> - -<p>Then he sprang to the side of the unconscious girl, peering down upon -her still face.</p> - -<p>"Not dead! not dead!" he cried, wildly.</p> - -<p>Even as he spoke, the girl opened her eyes.</p> - -<p>In the faint light they gleamed like stars, as they fell upon her -lover's face.</p> - -<p>"Harry!" she exclaimed.</p> - -<p>In an instant she was on her feet, supported by her friends until she -had fully regained her balance.</p> - -<p>Then explanations followed.</p> - -<p>"And who, my friend, are you who have thus benefitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> us?" inquired -Harry, now turning to grasp the hand of the stranger.</p> - -<p>The latter, however, was nowhere to be seen.</p> - -<p>"That chap I should sartinly take for the devil, do you see, if it -'twan't that I couldn't neither see his caudal cumpendage, nor account -for his savin' the gal, which no devil, I take it, would have done."</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, words may not express the joy of the lovers at their -reunion. Mary had firmly believed that Harry was dashed to pieces when -Brand let go of the rope.</p> - -<p>Alluding to this, Turk now said:</p> - -<p>"How came you to do sich a trick, captain?"</p> - -<p>The latter turned aside his head, trembling like an aspen as he -recalled to mind the apparition he had seen among the trees.</p> - -<p>"Accidents will happen," he said, in a husky voice.</p> - -<p>"Well," continued Turk, "now that we have so far got clear of them -infarnal blackskins, I trust and hope that we may contrive to get away -from the island without seein' 'em, or, at any rate, before we are -swallowed up in fire!"</p> - -<p>At that moment, far ahead of them, they beheld the stranger, his face -still screened by the broad leaf, beckoning to them.</p> - -<p>So he had not deserted them, after all.</p> - -<p>"We'd better follow him," said Turk, "as he seems to know every part -of this island. To my thinkin', he'll get us out of this scrape, if -it's possible to get out!"</p> - -<p>The advice was followed.</p> - -<p>The strange guide led the party along the narrow path with great -celerity, until they finally arrived at the foot of the cliff.</p> - -<p>By this time the whole island presented an appearance at once, wild -and fearful.</p> - -<p>The showers of fire from the mountain were increased ten-fold; the -island rocked like a cradle. Every part of it seemed lighted with a -ghastly radiance. A red mist hovered over it rolling along, volume -upon volume.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> - -<p>Near the beach the water was seen breaking into thousands of bubbles, -while further beyond it was dashed to a foam.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the noises of shock following shock were become terrific.</p> - -<p>A whole pack of artillery seemed to burst and boom, volley upon -volley, beneath the quaking soil!</p> - -<p>Suddenly there was a shock as of many thunderbolts, from the direction -of the mountain, which was now seen split, apparently from top to -bottom, into a great chasm, from which in great quantities burst forth -streams of lava and long forked tongues of lurid flame.</p> - -<p>The island was now as light as day. Far and near objects could be -plainly distinguished, while overhead showers of flying sparks almost -obscured the sky!</p> - -<p>In the red glare, the forms of savages were now seen making all haste -to descend the tottering cliff!</p> - -<p>Appalled by the impending fate of the island, all the natives who had -been left below, were seen at a distance beckoning to their companions -to make haste.</p> - -<p>The white people now were nearer the canoe than the savages themselves.</p> - -<p>"Come!" screamed the guide, as he made towards the light vessel. -"Come!"</p> - -<p>He beckoned, as he spoke, to the young girl and the seamen, all of -whom made haste to follow him.</p> - -<p>The savages below, now, for the first time, caught sight of the white -party, and made for them with great swiftness, yelling and brandishing -their spears.</p> - -<p>"There's sartinly no time to lose," exclaimed Turk, as he assisted his -friend to help Mary along; "if them blackskins get at us now, they'll -make sure work of it by pinning us to the ground."</p> - -<p>The party hurried on.</p> - -<p>They reached the canoe, while the islanders were yet forty yards -distant, when, springing in, all the men seized paddles and went to -work.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> - -<p>Spear after spear was hurled at them before they had gone more than a -few fathoms from the beach.</p> - -<p>One of these missiles severed a lock from Mary's head, another grazed -the shoulder of her lover.</p> - -<p>"Quick!" shrieked Turk, "if we don't get away from here in a minute, -we'll all be swallered in fire and water!"</p> - -<p>This, in fact, seemed evident. The bubbles increased on the surface. -The surges rolled wildly, swaying hither and thither—the booming -thunder underground was become deafening.</p> - -<p>Glancing towards the islanders, these unfortunates were seen running -towards the raft, and then flocking up on it with all possible -dispatch, while filling the air with dismal, howling cries.</p> - -<p>"God help the poor wretches!" cried Mary.</p> - -<p>"Paddle ahead, paddle for life!" screamed Turk, as the cliff, with a -din as if the very earth were being rent in twain, tumbled to pieces, -rock upon rock, apparently drowned in a sea of fire, amid which the -forms of the doomed natives on the cliff were also seen to disappear. -Sky air and sea looked as if aflame.</p> - -<p>The whole universe seemed to rock and tremble.</p> - -<p>The crimson waves rose high around the frail canoe; while the raft -nearer to the beach, was at once engulphed with its living freight.</p> - -<p>"God help us!" cried Mary.</p> - -<p>"We are lost!" shouted Brand, shutting out the fearful aspect of sea -and heaven, by putting a hand to his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Hush!" said Harry, sternly, "I trust we may escape."</p> - -<p>All round the island the waves were now seen trembling in great -colliding, clashing walls of hissing boiling water.</p> - -<p>From these walls streams of fire, like lightning flashes, shot -continually upward.</p> - -<p>The air was still full of flying sparks, and of lava stones which -dropped in showers into the water.</p> - -<p>For full half an hour the commotion continued, when,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> suddenly, the -doomed island disappeared forever, while the agitated waves continued -to bubble and boil long afterwards, over the spot where it had existed.</p> - -<p>Gradually the fearful red lustre of sky and sea died away. A gloom, -appalling from its strange suddenness, fell upon the sea.</p> - -<p>The canoe with its occupants floated in darkness upon the agitated -waters.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a><br /><br /> - -CONCLUSION.</h2> - - -<p>The men in the canoe continued paddling ahead. There was no sleep for -any of the occupants during that night.</p> - -<p>When daylight stole upon the sea they looked toward the spot, far -astern, where the island had been but where there was nothing now to -mark the spot except a mass of agitated waters, gradually subsiding.</p> - -<p>Straight and tall, at the stern of the canoe, sat the stranger guide, -he whose features had previously been hidden and the breadfruit leaf, -now thrust aside.</p> - -<p>Brand, who had been gazing toward the place he occupied, ever since -the day began to break, now was visibly agitated. He trembled all -over, while his face was perfectly ghastly.</p> - -<p>As the light increased, and the stranger's features became yet more -distinct, the captain uttered a wild cry, and while his eyes rolled -wildly in his head, sat as if transfixed to his thwart still gazing -upon the man before him.</p> - -<p>A moment he remained thus, then fell senseless upon his face.</p> - -<p>Mary, who had hitherto been gazing away toward the west, turned at the -cry Brand uttered, and seemed for a moment, like one spellbound as her -gaze fell upon the stranger's face.</p> - -<p>Then her eyes lighted up her whole countenance a gleam with joy.</p> - -<p>"My father!" she exclaimed, "father! father! Oh! thank God, I have -found him at last!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> - -<p>Stretching forth her arms, she moved towards the guide, who, however, -still sat looking at her half wonderingly and half pityingly, without -seeming to recognize her.</p> - -<p>Mary, however, knew him well. She could not mistake those familiar -features, and the fact of his not seeming to recognize her, seemed to -inspire her with the deepest grief.</p> - -<p>"Oh, papa! papa! Look! behold! Here is your daughter! I am Mary, papa! -Don't you know me?"</p> - -<p>An expression of partial intelligence came to the man's eyes, then -passed like a gleam of sunlight obliterated by the shadow of a cloud.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay, now!" exclaimed Tom Turk as he gazed at the man, "this is too -bad! I know ye well enough as the passenger once aboard the <em>Maxwell</em>, -and who was supposed to be lost; the father of this lass. It's mighty -strange you don't know your own child."</p> - -<p>"Mr. Manton," exclaimed Harry, stepping forward, and grasping the hand -of him he addressed, "this is a great, great pleasure! Thank God we -have found you at last, alive and well! Do not, I beg of you, afflict -your daughter longer by playing off this joke upon her!"</p> - -<p>"Joke! joke!" said Mr. Manton, running a hand through his gray hair -and looking up in a bewildered manner, "I don't understand you! Ha! -ha! it's all safe, my money!" he added, "all safe! safe!"</p> - -<p>Harry looked sorrowfully at the speaker.</p> - -<p>Glances of intelligence were exchanged between him and Turk.</p> - -<p>Even Mary could no longer doubt the fearful truth, which had gradually -been forcing itself upon her mind.</p> - -<p>Her father was insane!</p> - -<p>She flung herself at his feet—she grasped both his hands, and kissed -them again and again—then burst into tears, sobbing as if her heart -would break, at the vacant stare, which was the only response to her -manifestations.</p> - -<p>Harry endeavored to soothe her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> - -<p>"I am confident," said he, "that your father is not a confirmed -lunatic. He may be restored to his reason, if care be taken. I have -seen worse cases than this cured."</p> - -<p>So excited were Harry and his friends over the discovery they had -made, that, although the singular emotion of Brand had not escaped -their attention, yet they had not noticed his being unconscious.</p> - -<p>Now, however, Turk perceived it.</p> - -<p>"A strange affair, this," said he; "had old Nick himself come to claim -the captain, he couldn't have acted queerer than he has at the sight -of Mr. Manton!"</p> - -<p>In a few minutes, the captain recovered, staring wildly around him, -until his eye was caught by the spectacle of the old man astern, when -he started back with an affrighted cry.</p> - -<p>"It is real flesh and blood, then," he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Why, of course, Cap," answered Turk, "you don't suppose, I hope, -that we'd take a ghost passenger!"</p> - -<p>"Real flesh and blood," continued Brand, an expression of relief -passing over his face, as he noticed the vacant stare of Mr. Manton, -showing that the latter did not recognize him. "I am glad of it—ay, -very glad. So he was not lost overboard, after all!"</p> - -<p>"It seems not!" said Turk; "but I shouldn't have thought the discovery -would have set you off into a faintin' fit?"</p> - -<p>"Well, you see," said Brand, with a forced laugh, "the fact is I am a -little superstitious—always was!"</p> - -<p>This explanation hardly seemed to satisfy the old sailor, who shook -his head without saying a word.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the canoe, still urged along by Turk's paddle, was gliding -through the blue waters, now just beginning to catch the tinge of the -coming sunlight.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the old sailor, who had long been gazing far away towards the -west, sprung to his feet, screaming out! "Sail O!" with all his might.</p> - -<p>"It's the same craft I saw t'other night from the cliff!" said he; "I -didn't say anything about it, as I wasn't sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> it was a sail in the -imperfect light, and didn't want to awake false hopes."</p> - -<p>Harry Glenville now seizing his paddle, assisted Turk.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Brand, with an old handkerchief, continued to raise a -signal, which it was soon evident, was seen by the vessel.</p> - -<p>Previously standing away towards the southward, she now was seen to -come 'round, bowling along, close hauled towards the canoe.</p> - -<p>This at last was reached, and the occupants picked up, to learn they -were aboard the ship <em>Empire</em>, of New York, homeward bound.</p> - -<p>Every kind attention was bestowed upon the castaways, who, on their -arrival home, a few months after, published a letter of thanks to the -good skipper.</p> - -<p>Mary took her father to a little cottage she occupied with an aunt.</p> - -<p>A celebrated physician, accustomed to lunatic cases was called.</p> - -<p>He pronounced Mr. Manton's case, a curable one, and, in the course of -a year proved it so, by restoring the old man fully to his reason.</p> - -<p>Words may not express the joy of Mary, who had awaited this happy -moment to become the wife of Harry Glenville.</p> - -<p>The old man was present at the wedding, in which he took the interest -natural to the father of the bride.</p> - -<p>On the very night of the ceremony, the old man, who had not previously -touched upon that 'dark affair' aboard the <em>Maxwell</em>, was able to -reveal events, so as to go into a full explanation.</p> - -<p>He stated that, after being knocked overboard by Brand, he threw out -his arms, clutching the plank which had fallen with him, and which, -thanks to his being a good swimmer and to a favorable current, enabled -him to drift down upon the volcanic island.</p> - -<p>The hardship and excitement undergone, however, that night, so worked -upon his brain, that he was affected with a fever which lasted a -couple of days.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> - -<p>After that all was a blank to Mr. Manton. He could not remember what -took place from that time to the present.</p> - -<p>Although insane, however, the man's instinct, or some other cause, had -prompted him to stow his money away in the hollow tree.</p> - -<p>"Ay, ay," said Harry, "it was evidently to obtain your money that that -wretch Brand threw you overboard!"</p> - -<p>"Of course," answered Manton. "But the rascal was nicely foiled, for, -as it happened, it was always my custom, when I stepped on deck to put -my money in the canvas bag, and thrust it into my pocket!</p> - -<p>"This carefulness of mine may be understood, when I inform you that I -intended every cent of that money for my darling child, to whom I now -present it with great joy at being able to place her above want during -her lifetime!"</p> - -<p>We have little to add.</p> - -<p>After Manton's explanation, Brand was sought for, but could not be -found, as he had cleared off to parts unknown.</p> - -<p>He was never again heard of, if we except a rumor, that he had been -lost at sea!</p> - -<p>Tom Turk was favorably recommended to the ship owners by Harry -Glenville, who was thus enabled to procure him a vessel.</p> - -<p>The old fellow followed the sea until he was seventy years of age, -when he settled down in an old cottage on the outskirts of New York, -within a mile of the residence of Harry Glenville and his beautiful -bride.</p> - -<p>Mr. Manton still lives; in fact his native air has seemed to agree -with him. He is nearly as straight as ever, while, in spite of his -gray hairs, his cheek glows with the ruddy hue of health!</p> - -<p>Often on still summer nights, with his grandchildren at his knee, he -relates the story of the wicked Brand, who, for his many crimes, and -especially for his dark attempt to take a human life, was long spoken -of by sea men as the Demon Cruiser.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - - -<hr class="full" /> -<h2><a name="BEADLES_FRONTIER_SERIES" id="BEADLES_FRONTIER_SERIES">BEADLE'S FRONTIER SERIES</a></h2> - - -<ul class="list"> -<li class="ifrst">1. The Shawnee's Foe.</li> - -<li class="ilist">2. The Young Mountaineer.</li> - -<li class="ilist">3. Wild Jim.</li> - -<li class="ilist">4. Hawk-Eye, the Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">5. The Boy Guide.</li> - -<li class="ilist">6. War Tiger of the Modocs.</li> - -<li class="ilist">7. The Red Modocs.</li> - -<li class="ilist">8. Iron Hand.</li> - -<li class="ilist">9. Shadow Bill, the Scout.</li> - -<li class="ilist">10. Wapawkaneta, or the Rangers of the Oneida.</li> - -<li class="ilist">11. Davy Crockett's Boy Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">12. The Forest Avenger.</li> - -<li class="ilist">13. Old Jack's Frontier Cabin.</li> - -<li class="ilist">14. On the Deep.</li> - -<li class="ilist">15. Sharp Snout.</li> - -<li class="ilist">16. The Mountain Demon.</li> - -<li class="ilist">17. Wild Tom of Wyoming.</li> - -<li class="ilist">18. The Brave Boy Hunters of Kentucky.</li> - -<li class="ilist">19. The Fearless Ranger.</li> - -<li class="ilist">20. The Haunted Trapper.</li> - -<li class="ilist">21. Madman of the Colorado.</li> - -<li class="ilist">22. The Panther Demon.</li> - -<li class="ilist">23. Slashaway, the Fearless.</li> - -<li class="ilist">24. Pine Tree Jack.</li> - -<li class="ilist">25. Indian Jim.</li> - -<li class="ilist">26. Navajo Nick.</li> - -<li class="ilist">27. The Tuscarora's Vow.</li> - -<li class="ilist">28. Deadwood Dick, Jr.</li> - -<li class="ilist">29. A New York Boy Among the Indians.</li> - -<li class="ilist">30. Deadwood Dick's Big Deal.</li> - -<li class="ilist">31. Hank, the Guide.</li> - -<li class="ilist">32. Deadwood Dick's Dozen.</li> - -<li class="ilist">33. Squatty Dick.</li> - -<li class="ilist">34. The Hunter's Secret.</li> - -<li class="ilist">35. The Woman Trapper.</li> - -<li class="ilist">36. The Chief of the Miami.</li> - -<li class="ilist">37. Gunpowder Jim.</li> - -<li class="ilist">38. Mad Anthony's Captain.</li> - -<li class="ilist">39. The Ranger Boy's Career.</li> - -<li class="ilist">40. Old Nick of the Swamp.</li> - -<li class="ilist">41. The Shadow Scout.</li> - -<li class="ilist">42. Lantern-Jawed Bob.</li> - -<li class="ilist">43. The Masked Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">44. Brimstone Jake.</li> - -<li class="ilist">45. The Irish Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">46. Dave Bunker.</li> - -<li class="ilist">47. The Shawnee Witch.</li> - -<li class="ilist">48. Big Brave.</li> - -<li class="ilist">49. Spider-Legs.</li> - -<li class="ilist">50. Harry Hardskull.</li> - -<li class="ilist">51. Madman of the Oconto.</li> - -<li class="ilist">52. Slim Jim.</li> - -<li class="ilist">53. Tiger-Eye.</li> - -<li class="ilist">54. The Red Star of the Seminoles.</li> - -<li class="ilist">55. Trapper Joe.</li> - -<li class="ilist">56. The Indian Queen's Revenge.</li> - -<li class="ilist">57. Eagle-Eyed Zeke.</li> - -<li class="ilist">58. Scar-Cheek, the Wild Half-Breed.</li> - -<li class="ilist">59. Red Men of the Woods.</li> - -<li class="ilist">60. Tuscaloosa Sam.</li> - -<li class="ilist">61. The Bully of the Woods.</li> - -<li class="ilist">62. The Trapper's Bride.</li> - -<li class="ilist">63. Red Rattlesnake, The Pawnee.</li> - -<li class="ilist">64. The Scout of Tippecanoe.</li> - -<li class="ilist">65. Old Kit, The Scout.</li> - -<li class="ilist">66. The Boy Scouts.</li> - -<li class="ilist">67. Hiding Tom.</li> - -<li class="ilist">68. Roving Dick, Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">69. Hickory Jack.</li> - -<li class="ilist">70. Mad Mike.</li> - -<li class="ilist">71. Snake-Eye.</li> - -<li class="ilist">72. Big-Hearted Joe.</li> - -<li class="ilist">73. The Blazing Arrow.</li> - -<li class="ilist">74. The Hunter Scouts.</li> - -<li class="ilist">75. The Scout of Long Island.</li> - -<li class="ilist">76. Turkey-Foot.</li> - -<li class="ilist">77. The Death Rangers.</li> - -<li class="ilist">78. Bullet Head.</li> - -<li class="ilist">79. The Indian Spirit.</li> - -<li class="ilist">80. The Twin Trappers.</li> - -<li class="ilist">81. Lightfoot the Scout.</li> - -<li class="ilist">82. Grim Dick.</li> - -<li class="ilist">83. The Wooden-Legged Spy.</li> - -<li class="ilist">84. The Silent Trapper.</li> - -<li class="ilist">85. Ugly Ike.</li> - -<li class="ilist">86. Fire Cloud.</li> - -<li class="ilist">87. Hank Jasper.</li> - -<li class="ilist">88. The Scout of the Sciota.</li> - -<li class="ilist">89. Black Samson.</li> - -<li class="ilist">90. Billy Bowlegs.</li> - -<li class="ilist">91. The Bloody Footprint.</li> - -<li class="ilist">92. Marksman the Hunter.</li> - -<li class="ilist">93. The Demon Cruiser.</li> - -<li class="ilist">94. Hunters and Redskins.</li> - -<li class="ilist">95. Panther Jack.</li> - -<li class="ilist">96. Old Zeke.</li> - -<li class="ilist">97. The Panther Paleface.</li> - -<li class="ilist">98. The Scout of the St. Lawrence.</li> - -<li class="ilist">99. Bloody Brook.</li> - -<li class="ilist">100. Long Bob of Kentucky.</li> -</ul> - -<p class="center"><small>THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. Cleveland. U. S. A.</small></p> - - - -<hr class="full" /> -<p class="transnote"><b>Transcriber's Notes</b><br /><br /> - - -The Table of Contents has been added by the transcriber and it is -placed in the public domain. Minor punctuation errors have been -silently corrected.<br /><br /> - -Page <a href="#Page_12">12</a>: Changed "birth" to "berth."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: He went back to his birth, not to sleep,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_19">19</a>: Changed "Sidney," to "Sydney."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: visit some of them before going into Sidney.")</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_21">21</a>: Changed "steped" to "stepped."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: Then he steped to the captain's side,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_23">23</a>: Retained "claining," but possibly meant "clinging."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: Vainly Brand, claining to a rope near the mizzenmast,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_23">23</a>: Changed "sevaral" to "several."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: a violence which threw sevaral men off the yard)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_25">25</a>: Retained "dextrious", but probably meant "dexterous."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: the old fellow by a dextrious movement,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_30">30</a>: Changed "swarm" to "swam."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: He swarm to a spar near him, and, with the ropes)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_38">38</a>: Changed "accomodation" to "accommodation."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: one for the accomodation of the men,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_40">40</a>: Changed "apparrently" to "apparently."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: were audible, apparrently approaching the hut!)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_42">42</a>: Retained "from," but probably meant "for."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: Harry now sprang from the raft.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_47">47</a>: Changed "ripling" to "rippling."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: Away it went, ripling the water,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_53">53</a>: Changed "rock," to "rocks."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: firmly wedged in between two rock,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_55">55</a>: Changed "strangly" to "strangely."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: staring eyes, were fixed strangly upon the captain.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_59">59</a>: Changed "decending" to "descending."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: apparently decending towards him with great rapidity.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_59">59</a>: Changed "aditional" to "additional."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: with the fall of aditional lava occurred,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_62">62</a>: Changed "in" to "is."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">("This in dang'rous traveling," remarked Turk,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_63">63</a>: Removed duplicate "it."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: the drowned passenger as it it was hastily withdrawn!)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_68">68</a>: Changed "rembered" to "remembered."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: bewildered, she soon rembered all.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_68">68</a>: Changed "headed" to "heeded."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: The natives headed not her sufferings.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_69">69</a>: Changed "superstious" to "superstitious."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: The superstious natives are prone to believe weird stories,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_69">69</a>: Changed "eat" to "ate."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: Brand eat heartily, but poor Mary, almost maddened)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_70">70</a>: Changed "evntually" to "eventually."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: all possible dispatch, evntually pausing upon a lofty spire,)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_70">70</a>: Changed "hight" to "height."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: This spur, rising to a hight of about forty feet)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_73">73</a>: Changed "peal" to "peel."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: strips of which were already beginning to peal off.)</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_73">73</a>: "salle" for "sally," is best guess for unclear word, -meaning to rush out, assault.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: do anything in a hurry, which do you see, will salle all.")</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_78">78</a>: Changed "conditon" to "condition."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: "Name that ere conditon of yours then, quick!")</span><br /> -<br /> -Page <a href="#Page_85">85</a>: Retained "hear" typo, but possibly "heart" or "head."<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Orig: was enough to appal a stouter hear than that of Mary)</span><br /> -</p> - - - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Demon Cruiser, by R. 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Wheeler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Demon Cruiser - -Author: R. L. Wheeler - -Release Date: December 20, 2015 [EBook #50723] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON CRUISER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Diane Monico, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - - -THE DEMON CRUISER. - -BY -R. L. WHEELER. - -_Copyright, 1909, by James Sullivan._ - -_All Rights Reserved._ - - -Published by -THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK COMPANY -Cleveland, Ohio, U. S. A. - -(Printed in the United States of America) - - - - -TABLE OF CONTENTS - - -CHAPTER PAGE - -I. A Dark Deed 9 - -II. The Box 14 - -III. 19 - -IV. Lashed and Adrift 25 - -V. The Island 30 - -VI. The Vision 36 - -VII. The Attack 40 - -VIII. Drifting On 46 - -IX. Driven Away 50 - -X. Haunted 55 - -XI. On the Ledge 61 - -XII. Captured 65 - -XIII. Walled In 71 - -XIV. In the Tree 75 - -XV. Out of the Tree 80 - -XVI. The Fire-Chasm 85 - -XVII. Unexpected 89 - -XVIII. Conclusion 96 - - - - -THE DEMON CRUISER. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -A DARK DEED. - - -The ship _Maxwell_, Captain Roberts, homeward bound from Australia to -New York, was bowling along upon her course under full sail. - -It was a dark night, unrelieved save by the phosphor gleam of the seas -around the vessel, and the light of the two lanterns hung up in the -fore and mizzen rigging. - -The _Maxwell_ had one passenger--a gentleman named William Manton, -who, having accumulated a fortune at Australia, was now returning -to the United States, where his wife had died during his absence, -but where he expected to find his daughter, Mary, and a young man of -nineteen years old, living with an aunt in New York. - -In an iron box the passenger carried his fortune--gold pieces, -amounting in all to five hundred thousand dollars. - -He kept the box locked up in his chest, which was provided with a -patent lock, so arranged that it could not possibly be opened without -a great deal of noise. - -Occasionally Mr. Manton would go to this chest, and, taking out his -money, look at it to see that all was safe. He was by no means either -greedy or miserly; but he felt very anxious and careful about this -money intended for his beloved child. That his death was not many -years distant, he felt sure, as he had long suffered from an incurable -complaint of the liver. - -This might be detected now in his sallow skin, sunken cheeks, and -hollow eyes, as in his room he bent over his box--counting the bright, -yellow pieces of gold. - -In every other respect, Mr. Manton was a fine looking old gentleman, -being broad-shouldered and strong, with long arms, erect form, and -piercing glance. - -There was upon his face, at present, a look of intense satisfaction, -as coin after coin, in hard, shining pieces passed through his hands. - -"Ay," he muttered at length, "my girl will never be poor!" - -As he spoke, a sudden chill passed through the old man's frame; a -shudder as if an ice-bolt had come in contact with his body. - -He could not divine the cause; but, had he taken pains to glance -quickly behind him, up at a small opening in his door, he would have -known that it was the magnetism of the pair of evil-looking eyes there -which had chilled his blood. - -The eyes belonged to a rough, square, dark-skinned face, the owner of -which was the third mate, Mr. Brand--a man of Portuguese extraction, -whom the captain had shipped at Australia, to take the place of his -other third officer, lost overboard in a gale. - -Brand was an excellent sailor, but a reckless, good-for-nothing fellow -at heart; a cruel, bloody-thirsty wretch, who had committed almost -every crime one can imagine, except murder! - -Still it was evident the man had a conscience, as he would sometimes -get to thinking of the evil course he had pursued, and resolve to -reform. - -Alas! for reformation! rum was his God, and in this he would soon -drown all his better feelings, and keep getting worse and hardened -until he grew to be a perfect devil! - -Captain Roberts had known nothing of this when he shipped the third -mate, who could play the hypocrite to perfection when he pleased. -The fellow drank his rum in the privacy of his own apartment, and -took good care never to appear on deck intoxicated, for Roberts was -a stern, resolute, temperate man, who would never have forgiven his -second officer for being drunk on duty. - -It was now Brand's watch below. In his apartment he had heard the -click of Mr. Manton's chest-lock; a noise which had saluted his ears, -since leaving Australia more than once. Determined to ascertain the -cause, he had emerged from his room in his stocking feet, and made his -way to Manton's door as shown. - -As he watched the old man counting his money; as he saw the glitter of -those bright pieces, his mouth fairly watered, and a fearful purpose -began to gather strength at his heart. - -Having seen Manton return the little box to his chest, the third mate -stole back to his berth, and lay a long time awake, endeavoring to -plan a scheme for obtaining the money. - -"Wouldn't like to take the old gent's life," he muttered; "and -won't--no I won't; for bad as Dick Brand is, he has never yet -murdered." - -The more he thought, however, the less fearful became the idea of -murder. - -The gold--the broad glittering pieces of bright gold, threw a glimmer -over the dark suggestion creeping into and gaining force over his mind! - -Clink! clink! clink! - -He imagined he could still hear the noise of the pieces lightly -striking against each other, as when the old man counted them! - -The sweat came out upon his brow; he felt feverish and restless to -commence the work now, to at once possess himself by a bold stroke, of -the treasure! - -There were no persons in the cabin but Mr. Manton, himself, and the -steward, the captain, with the first and second officers being on -deck, and not apt to come below until two bells--ten o'clock, which -was yet an hour distant. The steward slept away off at the further end -of the cabin, and being a sound sleeper, there was no danger of his -waking from any noise less than that of a thunderbolt. - -Brand, however, to make sure, now rose, and going to the steward's -door listened intently, when the heavy breathing of the man convinced -him that his present slumber was no exception to the rule. - -In the middle of the state-room the dark schemer paused, glancing up -at the companionway. The spray occasionally entering this in drops, -would give him an excuse for closing the slide, so that he could hear -if any person should attempt to enter during the performance of his -fearful work. - -Then Brand asked himself what he should do after committing the deed. - -Investigation would follow, and there were many ways in which he might -be discovered. - -"Curses upon it! I had not thought of that," muttered the wretch, -fairly grinding his teeth. - -He went back to his berth, not to sleep, but to endeavor to plan a -safer scheme! - -It seemed as if the evil one favored him! - -At six bells--two hours after ten o'clock--while the captain and first -mate slept profoundly in their respective apartments, adjoining the -steward's, Brand heard a noise, and cautiously peering through his -door saw Mr. Manton, half dressed, about to go on deck, as was often -his custom, to take a mouthful of fresh air. - -He locked his door carefully after him; then ascended the companion. - -Brand waited a few minutes, then one moment exulting, and the next -shuddering at the thought of the deed contemplated, he cautiously made -his way on deck. - -The rascal had carefully considered the purpose in view. He felt -certain that no man aboard but himself, knew of the fortune carried by -Mr. Manton in his chest. The passenger was not at all communicative, -while the captain and his first and second officers were. Therefore, -had they known of the box of money, they would have talked enough -about it for all hands to become in a short time, posted on the -subject. - -Brand's first step, on reaching the deck, was to ascertain the -relative position of the officer of the watch, the passenger and the -man at the wheel. - -The latter, located near the steerage, was looking sharply at the -compass, as it was his duty to do, while the officer of the watch had -gone amidships, where he stood leaning over the rail, evidently in a -reverie. As to the passenger, he had moved far off, and was leaning -across the bulwarks astern, the better to get the benefit of the fresh -breeze then blowing square into his face. - -"Now, then," thought Brand, drawing from his breast pocket a small, -sharp dirk. - -Noiselessly as a snake, he stole behind the passenger, then, starting -up and throwing a quick glance round him to make sure that everything -was still favorable, he drew off to stab Mr. Manton in the back. - -Chance willed that the latter should turn at this critical instant. - -Involuntarily he seized the ruffian's wrist, and being a resolute man, -grappled him by the throat with the other hand. - -Fearful that the man would sing out, which he certainly would have -done at once but for a cold lately contracted in the throat, Brand -suddenly pressed this whole tremendous weight against the passenger, -throwing him backward head over heels across the bulwarks into the sea. - -A splash--a gurgling cry--a hand thrown up above the dark water! - -Then no sound was to be heard save the ordinary noises of a vessel -booming along with the wind and waves roaring, and yards, masts and -timbers creaking. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE BOX. - - -After committing this dark deed, Brand, crouching in the shadow of the -bulwarks, waited to make sure that the splash had not been heard by -any other than himself. - -Assured of this in a few moments, the third officer crawled back to -the companionway and descended as cautiously as he had come. - -Entering the state room, he made his way to Manton's door, determined -as soon as possible, to possess himself of the treasure. - -Procuring a bunch of skeleton keys, which he always carried with him, -he endeavored to unlock the door. - -Vain the effort; not one of the keys would answer. - -The rascal then drew forth his penknife, and with some trouble -contrived at last to pick the lock. - -Entering and carefully shutting the door, he advanced to the chest, -which he soon opened with the key belonging to it, found hanging up -near the head of the berth Manton had occupied. - -He drew forth the box, his eyes snapping with greed, his fingers -itching to handle the glittering contents. The box was heavy, being -made of iron and rather large, measuring about a foot in breadth and -length. - -An exultant grin crossed the man's face, giving to it an expression -perfectly hideous, as, carefully closing the chest and locking it, he -made his way back to his own apartment with the treasure box. - -Arrived there, he held the box up before him, and examined it on all -sides, but could discover no way to open it. - -"Ay, ay," he muttered, "I see how it is. The box has a secret spring, -which I must find before I can get at the treasure. A blasted fine way -of savin' money. I'd like to feast my eyes upon them shiners again, -but guess I'll wait until I get housed before I do so, as one never -knows who be a-watchin' him, and my bein' discovered a-counting these -pieces, might lead to unpleasant questioning." - -He deposited the box in his own chest, upon which he sat down, after -locking it. - -He had obtained what he coveted, but somehow it did not bring him the -expected satisfaction. - -The gurgling cry of Mr. Manton kept sounding in his ears with a -pertinacity truly appalling! The weird eyes of the man, gleaming and -rolling in his head, also haunted the fellow's mind! - -He rose, sat down again--then rose a second time, and threw himself -upon his berth, trying to sleep. - -After awhile he fell into a feverish slumber, and dreamed he saw the -drowned victim come up, looking white and cadaverous, with clothes and -hair dripping, hanging suspended right over his head! - -In his terror he uttered a hoarse shriek, which not only waked him, -but also the captain, who came rushing to his door, asking him what -was the matter: - -"Nothing--a nightmare I s'pose!" answered Brand, with a forced laugh. - -The captain, satisfied, returned to his berth and slept again. - -Brand, however, could not sleep. He was on deck before morning, when, -with an involuntary shudder, he glanced astern, through the flying -rack and scud of a gale which was rising. - -Far in the distance he then beheld a bright light--a red, lurid glare, -apparently shooting up from the sea. - -It was a volcano, which for years had not burned, but was breaking out -afresh on one of the Esmedura Islands. - -Brand thought it was a ship on fire. - -"We'd better veer round, then," remarked the officer of the watch. - -"Oh, no!" Brand exclaimed, involuntarily. - -The vision of Manton's dead body, which might be discovered floating -upon the water, rose before his mind. - -The second officer informed the captain about the light, when, using -his night-glass, the skipper soon ascertained and explained the cause -of the fire. - -Brand breathed a sigh of relief. - -When morning came, Manton was missed at breakfast. Having always found -him punctual, the captain was alarmed. He went to the room and opened -the door when no answer was returned to his summons, to find the old -man missing. - -Search was made--of course in vain--Brand apparently the most zealous -of all in his efforts to find the missing one. - -"He's gone, shipmates, it's my opinion, where's neither weepin' nor -whaling," said a voice behind Brand, while he was looking in the hold. - -The third officer turned to behold Tom Turk, a queer old tar, with -enormous head and body, and short, thick legs. - -Brand looked at him, keenly. - -"What did you say?" he inquired, sharply. - -"It's plain English, ain't it?" said Turk, rolling his quid round and -round: "there's neither weepin nor whalin' in t'other land. The old -man to my thinkin', was a good sort o' chap what has gone, sir, where -p'raps neither you nor I will go, sir, seein' as we've our bad p'ints!" - -Brand eyed the speaker steadily, and was satisfied that he knew -nothing of the dark deed committed. - -Meantime the search was continued, until it was concluded that the old -man, whose habit of rousing up at eight was well known, had fallen -overboard. - -Several months later the vessel arrived at New York Harbor. - -Scarcely was she anchored when a boat containing, besides the rowers, -a female and a young man, was seen pulling towards her. - -The boat was soon alongside, when the young man--a tall, fine looking -fellow, sprang out to assist the lady at up the gangway. She was a -beautiful girl, with brown hair flowing in curls over her shoulders, a -white rose-tinted skin, large, intelligent blue eyes and a form full -rounded grace. - -The moment she reached the deck, she glanced eagerly round her. - -"Where is he? Where is Mr. Manton, my father, sir?" she said, -addressing the captain. - -The latter's countenance fell; in a few words he explained. - -It was a terrible shock to the girl. Pale as death she staggered, and -would have fallen but for the support of her companion's arm. - -When she could stand alone, he inquired all the particulars of the -captain, who promptly gave what information he could. - -"Are you certain he was lost?" inquired the young man; "was there no -way in which he might have saved himself?" - -"I fear not," was the reply. "We must have been two miles from land at -the time." - -"Papa was an excellent swimmer," faltered the young girl. "He might -have reached the land." - -The captain, however, shook his head, saying he felt quite certain -that his passenger was not saved. - -Further remarks were exchanged, when the captain added that the -passenger's chest, unmolested, was in the cabin as it had been left. - -At this, Brand, who stood not far off, turned aside his head and felt -uneasy. - -What more probable than that Manton had written to his daughter, -telling her about the box with him. Just where he kept it, and how -much it contained. - -If that were so, however, it was evident that at present all -considerations were drowned in the grief and excitement the girl felt -at the sudden news of her parent's loss. - -With a mute but expressive look, she turned towards the young man, -her companion, who at once helped her down the gangway, telling the -captain that the chest would be sent for. - -"Good riddance!" thought Brand; "I must get away from this craft as -soon as I can." - -Next day he applied for his discharge, which the captain granted. An -hour later, Brand and the chest were lodged at a seaman's boarding -house in ---- street. - -Carefully locking his door and pulling down the window curtains, the -third officer drew the iron box from the chest. After a long search -he found the secret spring, which proved to be one of the small brass -nails with which the box was studded. - -Trembling with greedy expectation, he pressed against it, when the lid -flew open. - -Then a strange cry burst from his lips. - -The box was empty! - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -For several moments the man continued staring at the empty box, wholly -unable to account for the singular discovery. - -Then he sat down and ruminated. No living soul aboard the vessel had -known of his possessing the box, therefore he was certain that the -money could not have been extracted after he obtained it. - -The only inference was that the money was not in the box when he took -it. - -Where then was it? - -Vainly the man puzzled his brains: he could arrive at no definite -conclusion. - -Weeks passed. - -Manton's chest must by this time, have been received and opened by his -daughter. Brand had seen several of the ship's officers, but it was -evident they had not heard of Manton's daughter missing anything from -the chest. - -Brand, therefore, breathed easy on this score, believing that, after -all, the passenger had not written a word to his daughter about the -box. - -Two weeks later, by recommendation of Captain Roberts, who had found -Brand to be an excellent seaman, the latter obtained command of a ship -called the _Quadrant_, bound to Australia and the East Indies. - -While Brand was preparing his vessel for sea, he had a visit from the -owner. - -"Captain," said the latter, "you will cruise awhile off the islands, -in the neighborhood of Australia, and visit some of them before going -into Sydney." - -"What for?" inquired Brand. - -The order had really been an unpleasant one to him, as if brought -afresh to his imagination, the drowned body of his victim, Mr. -Manton, floating about on the water. - -"Because," answered the owner, "the daughter of that passenger aboard -the _Maxwell_, Mr. Manton, cannot be persuaded that her father was -really lost. She is anxious to investigate the matter; to search all -the islands she can, especially that one upon which was seen the -volcano!" - -Objections rose to Brand's white lips; but he dared not give them -utterance, fearful of exciting suspicion. - -"The lady," continued the owner, "will be accompanied by a young -man--her affianced, who has been in the United States navy, and -is a good sailor, from whom, in case of emergency, you may derive -assistance. He is one of my clerks; a worthy young man, whom I hope -you will treat with all due courtesy." - -"Ay, ay, sir," answered Brand, who could be pleasant enough when he -chose. - -Next day he went about shipping his crew, among whom was old Tom Turk. - -Brand admired the latter's skill in seamanship, and this was his only -reason for taking him, as in every other respect he disliked him. - -The vessel ready a fortnight later, got under weigh, and was soon -plunging her bows into the dark waters of the Atlantic. - -On the quarter deck, by the side of Mary Manton, stood Harry -Granville, her lover, endeavoring to cheer her spirits, which had -drooped ever since the fearful news of her father's disappearance from -the _Maxwell_. - -Brand, superintending the work aboard the vessel, watched the lovers -askance. The presence of the daughter of the very man he had pushed -overboard, made him feel uneasy. - -Every time he encountered the great, earnest blue eyes, it seemed to -him as if they could see, away down into his soul, the dark secret he -intended to carry with him to his grave! - -Favored by fair winds the vessel, in a few months arrived in the -latitude where the tragedy had taken place. - -"Here is where the passenger fell overboard!" said Brand, addressing -Harry Grenville, one evening, just after sundown. - -The young man went into the cabin, whence he soon reappeared with -Mary, whose eyes were suffused with tears, while she gazed earnestly -upon the water, as if there hoping to see the form of her parent -reappear. - -Brand, walking his quarter-deck, kept his eyes steadily averted from -her face. - -Gradually darkness stole round the vessel, when, far ahead, a bright, -lurid light broke upon the vision of Mary Manton. - -"What is that?" she inquired of her lover. - -He informed her that it was a volcano. - -"Then that is the volcanic island where we are to search," said Mary. - -"Yes," answered Harry, "but you must not hope to discover anything. -From this point no man could hardly hope to swim to that island." - -Mary sighed heavily. - -At the same moment, she noticed that her lover's head was inclined -sideways. - -She was then sensible of a distant humming, roaring noise, growing -louder and louder! - -"It is the volcano, is it not?" she inquired. - -"No," answered Harry, "it is a storm coming up." - -He sprang to the companion and glanced at the barometer, which, -however, for some reason, had fallen but little. - -"The instrument must be out of repair," said Harry. - -Then he stepped to the captain's side, and questioned him when he was -informed that the barometer was injured. - -"I need no such toy," continued Brand, "to tell me when a storm is -a-comin' up! I've heard the wind pipe too often for that." - -"We are going to have a hard blow, pretty soon," said Harry--"don't -you hear?" - -"That's the volcano, youngster!" answered Brand gruffly. - -"You are mistaken." - -"Peers I know my business!" - -"I am sure it is the gale we hear. You would do well to take in sail." - -"I hope I'm master abroad my own craft," said Brand, sneering. - -"We will leave it to some of your oldest seaman," said Glenville, -wishing to avoid a quarrel, if possible. - -Several of the old tars, among them Turk, were called up. They agreed -with Glenville. - -"I've heerd the roarin' of a volcanic, before now," said Turk, "which, -beggin' pardon, sir, is no more like a gale a-comin' up than this is -like the thump of a handspike," taking out his quid and throwing it -violently to the deck. - -Brand, however, skillful seaman though he was, refused to be -convinced, until suddenly he beheld driving down upon him from -windward, a long line of white water, showing like a wall through the -gloom. - -Then the unmistakable notes of the tempest were heard by all aboard. - -"Go below," said Harry to his fair companion. - -She obeyed trembling; at the same moment, with a whis and a rush, the -storm was heard sweeping along towards the vessel. - -"Hands! by halliards! clew up everything lively there! Mind tacks and -sheets," screamed Brand, in a voice like the scream of a wild beast. - -Top-gallant sails, topsail, foresail and mainsail were soon clewed up, -and the seamen's forms were distinctly seen running up through the -gloom. - -Too late! While the poor fellows were yet upon the yards, the storm, -with the din of a thousand furies, struck the devoted ship. - -At first nothing could be seen or heard, save the rush and the roar of -the tempest. - -The spray shrouded the ship as in a white cloud, flying all round -her, blinding and bewildering the men, while the roar of the sea, the -creaking, snapping and straining of yards and masts, the creaking -of the timbers, the cannon-like report of the sails, slatting all -over the vessel, with the whipping about of ropes, tacks and sheets, -created a din such as only the sailor, caught unawares in a storm, can -realize. - -Vainly Brand, claining to a rope near the mizzenmast, endeavored to -make himself heard; his voice was as a mere whisper in contrast with -the shrieking and howling of the storm. - -Meanwhile far down, with her rail buried, the ship tore away through -the mad waters, swift as a thunderbolt, pitching meanwhile with a -violence which threw several men off the yard into the white and black -mist of spray and storm, bubbling, boiling and rolling beneath. - -Harry Glenville had sprung aloft to cheer and encourage the men. - -Vainly endeavoring to make himself heard, he was suddenly thrown from -his position, and must have gone overboard but for his catching the -backstay and by this reaching the deck. - -No need now of men to pull the sails. With a sharp tearing sound, -like the blasts from a thousand bass trumpets, every strip of canvass -aboard the vessel was torn to shreds and carried far off into the rack -and scud. - -Soon after there was a crash, when down came the fore and main -topmasts, falling over the side, and dragging the ship down, so that -half of her decks were buried, while the seas continually broke over -the other part. - -In a few minutes Brand, with the help of his speaking trumpet, was -enabled to make himself heard by shrieking into the very ears of the -men. - -"Clear the wreck!" was his first order, which Tom Turk at once sprang -to obey, axe in hand. - -Harry Glenville, similarly provided, was at the side of the old tar, -to whom he had taken quite a fancy, and who he had reason to believe, -appreciated and was glad of his notice. - -The two soon gaining the wreck, went to work, having previously -fastened ropes round their middles to prevent themselves from being -washed overboard. - -With a few blows they renewed the encumbrances, when the vessel -partially righted. - -The wind was now blowing a perfect tornado, keeping the spray down -almost upon the surface of the sea, which was nearly as flat as a -floor. - -The ship also feeling this pressure, instead of now rolling and -plunging, was forced down into the stormy sea almost to the middle of -her bulwarks, while her bows were completely buried. - -Harry had taken off the rope, and was about returning aft, when the -water forward swept by an erratic movement of the ship, caught him and -carried him from his feet! - -Like a shot he was whirled over the bulwarks, when he caught a small, -rotten piece of rope hanging from the shrouds. - -Brand, who was not far off, might easily have saved him by springing -and grasping his hand. - -For reasons which may be imagined, he resolved to leave the man to his -fate! - -The rope being, as stated, a rotten one, broke! - -"My God! he is gone!" shrieked the hypocritical captain. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -LASHED AND ADRIFT. - - -"Guess not!" answered the voice of old Tom Turk, "he's as safe as a -marlinespike in a rack!" - -So saying, the old fellow by a dextrious movement, threw a bowline -hitch he had quickly formed at the end of a rope, over the young man's -head, and drew him safely aboard. - -Mary, who, hearing of her lover's peril, had ventured on deck in spite -of the storm, sprang towards him. - -"Ay, ay, now, lass!" exclaimed Turk, "mustn't be in too much of a -hurry to go, as there's a mighty danger of our all goin' before long. -Bless your pretty eyes! that's what I call a collapse!" as Mary -impulsively threw her arms around her lover's neck, in her joy at his -safety. - -On went the vessel, booming, crashing, thundering on her course, with -all her timbers quivering, as if about to fly apart. - -"Oh, Harry!" exclaimed Mary, "will this storm ever be over!" - -"Yes! be not afraid!" he answered, as he helped her into the cabin. - -There he beheld a sight which was truly appalling. The water was -washing and swashing about the cabin floor up to his very knees, while -articles of furniture were floating about like so many chips! - -The young man conducted the girl back again, and having safely secured -her to the mizzenmast, by means of a rope, he went over to the captain. - -"Your ship has sprung a leak!" - -"What?" exclaimed Brand, almost bounding off his feet. - -Harry repeated the information, when Brand, peering into the cabin, -discovered that he had spoken correctly. - -The vessel, it was evident, had sprung a leak somewhere beneath the -counter. - -Pumps were immediately rigged, and their dismal clanging was ere long -heard like a knell through the storm. - -The carpenter being sent below, half an hour later, reported the water -gaining. - -Brand stared at him half stupefied. - -Then, with eyes rolling wildly in his head, he shrieked out: - -"I might have known I'd have no luck in these accursed waters!" - -He drew back, shuddering from head to foot. The blue eyes of Mary -Manton were turned full upon his dark, distorted face! - -"Why?" inquired a voice at his elbow, when, turning he beheld Harry -Glenville. - -He gave the young man a black look! then uttered a horrible oath! - -"Blast you, young eavesdropper, are you a-goin' to follow me about -like a spy?" - -"I don't understand! You talk foolishly!" said Harry. - -"Do I?" inquired Brand, with a sneer, apparently recovering his -calmness all of a sudden. "Well, I'll tell you what I meant. I meant -on account of the infernal storms one often meets with in these -latitudes. It matters little, however, we are all doomed to Davy Jones -now, unless we can get off in the boats!" - -"Ay, ay, the boats are probably our only recourse!" answered Harry, -with great coolness. - -Brand admired him in spite of himself. - -"Why, now, blast it! it seems to me you take matters easy, youngster!" - -"This is not the first storm I've seen!" answered Harry. - -"No! but when you know that it's p'raps to be your last, one would -think you'd feel uneasy, to say the least." - -"A difference in temperaments," answered the other; "but come! don't -you think we'd better be getting the boats ready? The lashings are -loose and they'll soon be adrift, if we don't hurry." - -"Ho, ho! so you're getting anxious, after all, my young shaver!" - -"Not in the least for myself," answered Harry contemptuously, "but -there is another in my charge." - -As the young man spoke, the ship suddenly fell off, when, with a crash -and a roar like a thunderbolt, a huge cataract of water was borne -directly across the vessel, carrying away the wheelhouse with the man -at the helm, the caboose, a part of the forecastle, and last, but by -far not least, all the boats, which, as Harry had stated, were become -loosened in their lashings. - -This catastrophe held every man mute after he had saved himself from -going overboard. - -White and dumb the sailors saw the last means of their leaving the -doomed ship borne away from them. - -"It's all up with us!" screamed Brand--the first to break the silence. - -"We are lost! we cannot be saved! Is it not so?" cried Mary, clinging -to the arm of her lover. - -"There is no telling!" he answered; "but hope for the best." - -Just then the ship falling off yet further, headed directly for that -great mass of red lurid light, gleaming like a bonfire of demons -through the bleak darkness of the night and the storm. - -"Ay, ay, there's the volcano," cried Harry. - -"Yes, how like a beacon of hope it seems!" exclaimed Mary. - -"Ay, a hell-beacon!" growled the captain, as he passed into the cabin. - -What business had he in the cabin at such a moment, when his ship was -going down into the dark waters! - -Rum! - -He would drink, drink, drink, drowning the dragon of conscience which, -in this dread moment, seemed gnawing at his very vitals. - -Up to his waist in water, he found the swimming chests containing his -grog, and breaking it open, poured the fiery contents of one of the -bottles down his throat. - -The next moment he felt a rope drawing tightly round his breast -beneath the armpits, became aware then of being hauled up through the -companionway, while the voice of old Tom Turk rang in his ears: - -"Hold there, Cap! Blast me, sir, but this ain't a square above-board -bizness, do you see--a drinkin' of grog when there's peril! How do -you know, but some of t'others aboard would like a few tauts, when -opportunity drifts to em." - -The captain would have responded the minute he was hauled up, with a -blow of the fist, or at least an oath but for the terrible catastrophe -which now seemed impending. - -Humming, gurgling and roaring, a strange noise, growing louder every -moment, was heard in the hold. - -"God help us all!" screamed the carpenter; "no more use at them pumps. -What you hear is the water surgin' into the hold." - -Mary clung closely to her lover, while the men with axes at once went -to work, chopping down pieces of timber for the purpose of forming a -raft. - -"How far should you judge we are from yonder island!" said Harry, now -pointing to the red gleam which seemed to send a track of lurid fire -shooting through the darkness. - -"Well," answered Tom Turk, "it's hard tellin' at night though I'm -shouldn't say we're more than a league from it. It's symbological," -continued Turk, gloomily crossing his arms over his breast, "to many -of us as shall go below instead of aloft." - -"I dare say you have sinned as well as others, you old rascal!" cried -Brand, fiercely addressing the speaker. - -"There's no denying that," answered Tom; "I have sinned when I was -a little chip, but not since the days o' my apple steelin', from -orchards and such like. Ever since, I have behaved myself like a -martyr, confinin' myself to but eights tauts of grog at a time--when I -could get it, that is; which ain't under present state of affairs." - -Meanwhile the men hurried to construct the raft, which was at last -completed in a clumsy manner, owing to the hurried nature of the work. - -It was high time it was finished, for every part of the craft except a -dry spot on the quarterdeck, was now buried, the water reaching half -way up the stumps of the shattered masts. - -The raft was secured alongside, after which Harry helped Mary to the -floating platform, taking care to lash her securely to the timbers. - -In a minute all hands were upon the raft, and Brand was about severing -the rope with his knife, when, with a sudden lurch, down went the ship -dragging the floating platform with it. - -The men drifted off into sea! but Mary being lashed to the raft went -down with it! - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE ISLAND. - - -As the young girl disappeared beneath the dark waters, two persons -dove after her, determined to accomplish her rescue or perish in the -attempt. - -Those two were Harry Glenville and old Tom Turk. - -Could they reach the girl and bring her to the surface, they might -easily manage to lash her to some one of the many planks and spars -floating around them, and faintly revealed in the lurid gleam -streaming along the waters from the volcano, now less than two miles -distant. - -Down under the sea, Turk and his friend finally came upon the girl, -when, with one blow of his knife, hold ready in his right hand, Harry -severed the rope holding Mary to the raft. - -Now, however, he felt the force of the downward suction of the doomed -ship, and was unable to ascend with his burden to the surface of the -sea. - -In this situation the young man preserved his presence of mind, -holding to Mary with a firm grasp, his right arm round her waist, -while with the other he paddled under water, hoping soon to get out of -range of the suction force dragging him down. - -In about a minute, he became aware that he was ascending with great -rapidity, and then comprehended that the whirlpool formed by the -sinking craft had subsided, shooting him and his precious charge -upward with the bubble caused by the collapsing of the waters. - -He was soon at the surface of the sea, to behold his shipmates all -around him clinging to spars and fragments. - -He swam to a spar near him, and, with the ropes dangling therefrom, -lashed the girl to it; then looked down upon her white, upturned face, -closed eyes and drooping hair, almost fearing that she was dead! - -Far along the waters the light of the volcano, streaming luridly, -illumined that pale face and shining hair with unearthly radiance. - -"Mary, speak to me!" exclaimed the young man. "Tell me that you are -alive--that you hear me calling you!" - -Vain the supplication. Her closed lips remained mute, the eyes were -not opened, the sad pallor of the face remained unchanged. - -Suddenly he became aware of a noise like a porpoise blowing, and -turning, beheld Tom Turk, who had just risen alongside of him, -clinging to the same spar to which he hung. - -"Phew, bless my eyes!" ejaculated the old sailor, "this is sartinly -a most uncomfortable siterwation for them as has always sarved their -captins faithful." - -Then he looked closely at the young girl. - -"Don't be afraid," he exclaimed, "the gal is all right. That waxy -look, I'm sartin, ain't from death. She'll git over it! I never saw -one of the female sect in this siterwation afore, except once off the -Cape of Good Hope where I was wrecked in the bark _Tempest_. The poor -creatur' was in the water tied to the bottom of a boat a whole day, -but the water bein' warm, as it is here, she got over her hardship, -and I believe is now livin' parfectly healthy with a famerly of small -children." - -"It seems to me, Turk," said Harry, suddenly, "that we are receding -from the volcanic inland; instead of approaching it." - -"I was a-thinkin' of that same," answered Turk; "in fact the wind has -hauled round a little, and is now a-blowin' from the island, instead -of towards it." - -This troubled the young man much. He now had little hope, in fact, of -Mary's being saved. - -Meanwhile, through the din of the storm, the voices of Turk's -shipmates were now and then heard, as they drifted along, attached to -their respective spars. - -With the strange coolness of seamen in the most perilous situations, -many of these men even ventured so far as to laugh and crack jokes as -they were tossed about on that stormy ocean; so true it is that "Jack -never despairs while there is a plank under him." - -Gradually the voices became more detached as the poor fellows were -separated further and further from each other by the intervening seas, -perhaps never again to meet on earth! - -Mary Manton now opened her eyes. The plank to which she was attached -had by this time drifted out of range of the stream of light, but -Harry and Turk could see the gleam of those bright orbs through the -darkness. - -"Why! where am I? Harry! Harry! where are you?" exclaimed the poor -girl, while shudder after shudder convulsed her frame. - -"I am here, Mary!" he answered. "Cheer up! You are with friends. We -may, in time, succeed in reaching land." - -"Oh, I am so glad you are safe!" she exclaimed, impulsively, resting -her bright head on his shoulder. "Do you think we are far from land?" - -"I hope not," he answered. Then, raising himself halfway out of water, -and glancing far ahead through the gloom. "God be praised! I think I -see land, now! at all events there are breakers." - -Turk looked in the indicated direction, to behold a long line of white -water gleaming through the darkness. - -"Ay! ay!" he shouted, in a ringing voice, "there is land, sure enough. -Cheer up, lass, we are near land after all." - -"I am afraid our shipmates will not succeed in reaching it," said -Harry, "as they must be far to leeward of us by this time." - -"There's no tellin'," answered Turk; "but I'm afraid not. I hope, -hows'ever, the poor lads will be picked up, between this and -to-morrow night, by some passing craft." - -All night long the three were borne on, at the mercy of winds and -waves, nearer and nearer towards the line of white water. - -The sufferings of poor Mary were meanwhile intense, and were fully -appreciated by the two men, notwithstanding the girl's efforts to hide -her pain and seem cheerful. - -Poor child! drenched through and through, cold and feverish by turns, -with a terrible pain in her head, and half smothered by the seas -continually breaking over her, no wonder that she suffered! - -Almost unconscious when the gray dawn stole upon the waters, she heard -the ringing tones of Harry Glenville, breaking like music upon her -half-bewildered senses. - -"Land O! right ahead!" - -Then Harry, loosening her lashings so that she could turn her head, -pointed out to her a lofty cape, covered with shrubbery, beneath which -was a beach covered with beautiful cocoanut trees, now waving wildly -in the gale! - -"Thank God!" she murmured, and endeavored to smile. - -The effort, however, was too much. With a faint but glad cry, she fell -back, half fainting, upon her lover's shoulder. - -The drifting spar was now close upon the reef, scarcely five fathoms -ahead. - -In less than half an hour it struck against one of the rocks, when -Harry and Turk, loosening their fair charge from the spar, surveyed -the water between the reef and the island. - -Concluding that it was shallow enough to enable them to wade, they -made their way toward the beach, carrying the girl between them. - -Soon landing, they found a clear stream, in the heart of a breadfruit -thicket, with a bank of soft turf upon which they laid the young girl. - -Then Turk, with a knowing wink, drew from his pocket a small flask, -containing a red liquid. - -"Though temperance!" said he, "although I ain't never signed no -pledge, still I will indulge in a draught of this, by way of -celebratin' our wonderful preservation!" - -Before drinking, the old tar put the neck of the bottle between the -lips of the young girl, pouring some of the brandy down her throat. - -The effect was instantaneous; color came to her cheeks, and she opened -her beautiful blue eyes, which were turned upon her lover before she -spoke. - -"Harry! Where are we now? Are you perfectly safe--uninjured--" - -"Ay, ay," interrupted Turk; "that's the way with her sect, always -a-thinkin' of t'others before themselves." - -"I am perfectly well, and uninjured," answered Harry, as he helped -Mary to her feet. "Come, Turk," he added, to the old sailor, "let us -get some kind of a shelter up for this poor child!" - -A fire was first kindled, dry wood having been found in a hollow -behind some stones. Then Harry procured a log and made a good seat for -the girl before the fire, that she might dry her saturated garments. - -"This is comfortable," said Turk, as he again raised his flask to his -lips; "here we are all out of them perils which--" - -Harry quietly seized his arm. - -"Turk," said he, "we may need that brandy. I will buy it of you." - -At this the movements of the old tar were peculiar. - -He put the flask down on a flat rock; then he spread his legs apart -like a pair of compasses, and thrust both hands in his pockets, -looking at his friend with eyebrows elevated almost to the top of his -forehead. - -"This," said he, slowly, "is an insultin' proposition. Avast! avast! -about buyin' my grog! D'ye think I would sell it, if it'll be of any -use to the gal? No; she is perfectly welcome to that and to a gallon, -had I as much in my possession." - -"Nay, Harry," said Mary sweetly, noticing the wistful glances the old -tar cast at the bottle, even while delivering his magnanimous speech. - -"Mr. Turk shall keep his liquor. I will not need it! See, I am quite -strong!" and she rose briskly to her feet. - -"Mr. Turk," muttered the old sailor, "that Mr. which I ain't heard for -many a year, sounds mighty queer. It's too respectful to sich an old -hulk as me, Miss. Please drop it and call me plain Tom Turk." - -"Tom Turk it shall be, then," answered the young girl. - -As she spoke, there was a rustling in the shrubbery near the fire. - -"Savages!" gasped Mary; "let us fly." - -She shrank back, when parting the bushes a familiar form emerged to -view. - -It was Captain Brand. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE VISION. - - -"You here!" exclaimed Harry, starting back. - -"And why not?" inquired Brand, with a sinister smile, "haven't I as -good a right to be saved as yourself?" - -"Certainly, and I am glad you have saved yourself. Still your -appearance surprised me a little, as I had thought that no persons -except ourselves, had succeeded in reaching this island from the -wreck." - -"It was a narrow escape for me," answered Brand; "the current which -runs round the extremity of this island, caught me, and I would have -been whirled past the land, do you see, but for my catching the spur -of a rock by which I just succeeded in drawing myself ashore." - -"Bad eggs always float," said Turk, making a grimace. - -"What mean you, you rascal?" cried Brand; "are you regrettin' my -escape?" - -"Not exactly, still I'll own I'd rather some of t'others had been -saved and you have gone instead." - -"Blast you for an unmannerly old dog," shouted Brand; "I've half a -mind to give you a taste of a rope's end. Just remember you are under -my orders, now, as you were aboard ship." - -"I differ with ye there," answered outspoken Turk; "so much in fact, -that if you should try to rope's end me, I should have to keel haul -you." - -And Turk, as he spoke, showed a formidable looking fist, hairy and -covered with protuberances like those one see on the knots of an oak. - -Brand's eye flashed fire, and he made a step forward. - -Then he controlled himself, muttering something in an inaudible voice. - -Meanwhile, the eyes of Mary were turned upon the intruder with a -mingled expression of fear and dislike. - -There was evidently in those eyes some startling resemblance which -made the captain feel very uneasy, for he half turned his head, while -a ghastly hue overspread his face. - -"So," said Harry, breaking the awkward silence, "we did not reach our -destination, the volcanic isle, after all." - -"No," answered Brand, gloomily. - -"Can we not get to it from here?" inquired Mary, eagerly; "I know not -why, but I feel as if we should there find my poor, lost papa!" - -"Never," thought Brand; "your papa has been food for fishes long -before now." - -In a few minutes they were at work erecting bowers. - -Turk was moving away, with Brand about to follow him, when, turning -and catching a sudden glance at the captain, he snatched up his bottle -and pocketed it. - -"You need not be afraid," said the skipper, with a sneer; "I have -a supply of gin of my own," showing a big black bottle, partially -protruding from the inside pocket of his jacket. - -Turk pulled Harry's sleeve. - -"The captain's gin," he whispered, "better than this ere brandy of -mine, would make an excellent cosmopolite for the gal in case of -sickness." - -"You may keep your brandy if you wish," answered Harry, sternly. - -At this reproof, old Turk colored and scratched his head like a -schoolboy detected in some grave offence. - -Then he ran forward, and grasped the young man's hand. - -"I wouldn't taste a drop of my grog for the world, since the gal may -want it. Still do ye see, human natur' is human natur', and I'm bound -to say that I have been selfish in this matter, to the great sorrer of -Tom Turk." - -Two bowers were soon erected of twigs and leaves; one for the -accommodation of the men, the other for Mary. - -With their jackets and a multitude of dried leaves, the men formed a -pleasant little retreat for the young girl, who thanked them for their -pains. - -Towards sundown the gale abated. The men took advantage of this to -construct, with some fragments of the wreck drifted ashore, a raft, -upon which they paddled out to the reef, where several barrels and -boxes from the wrecked vessel had drifted. These were found to contain -hard bread and salt beef, enough to last them for several weeks. - -With some difficulty they got the valuable articles over the reef, -and they were paddling them to land, when they saw Mary, whom they -had left upon the beach, beckoning to them with an air of fear and -excitement. - -"We had better let the provision go," said Harry. - -"No!" exclaimed Brand, "I am captain here. The gal has probably got -scared at nothing." - -"Come, Turk!" said Harry, "if this fellow don't choose to follow us, -we will leave him." - -So saying, the young man plunged into the water, closely followed by -the old tar, greatly to the indignation of Brand, who, clenching his -fists, muttered to himself: - -"I will be even with them, yet." - -Meanwhile the beach now being but twenty yards distant from the raft, -Harry and his friend were soon ashore. - -"Perhaps I was mistaken," said Mary, as she fled to her lover's side, -"but I feel quite certain I saw the head of a savage, protruding over -the shrubbery near my bower," pointing as she spoke, towards a clump -of bushes about forty yards from the sylvan shelter. - -Instantly Harry bounded toward the spot, armed with a stout club -picked up from the ground. - -Turk was about following, when a thought seemed to strike him. He -retraced his step, and, taking from his pocket his bottle of grog, -rolled it up in a green breadfruit leaf, and presented it to Mary. - -"Here, lass!" said he, "please take charge of this and--" here a -suppressed sob escaped the old fellow, "if I never return to claim it, -keep it as a testamentary of affection from Tom Turk." - -Before the girl could reply, he was off after Harry, who, by this -time, was close upon the clump of shrubbery. - -The young man looked all around him, but could see neither sign nor -trace of a savage. - -Concluding the girl's fancy had deceived her, both men returned to -assure her that such was the case. Mary, however, looked doubtful. - -"It may have been fancy," she said, "but somehow I hardly think it -was." - -Harry endeavoured to quiet her fears, and was finally successful. - -Meanwhile Turk was noticed to behave in a singular manner. He -would walk all round the girl, looking at her, now and then, in a -significant manner winking first with one eye and then the other. - -Annoyed, Harry at length asked him what he wanted. - -"Beg pardon, Miss," he stammered "but if you please, that bottle of -grog!" - -Mary blushed, and thrusting her hand in the pocket of her dress, -pulled forth the flask, which she at once presented to the old sailor. - -"Thank ye, Miss," said he, "it shall be preserved for your benefit." - -So saying he pocketed the flask, and waded off to the raft to help get -the box and barrel ashore. - -This was soon done. - -"We had better stand watch, to-night," said Harry, when the articles -were brought to the shelter. - -"Wherefore?" queried Brand. - -"Because Miss Manton will feel much easier, if we do." - -"Oh! very well, you can stand watch if you like, but I don't care to -lose my sleep for nothing." - -Night soon closed round the party. - -Harry took the first watch, while Turk rolled up like a ball, lay -cuddled in a corner of the hut. - -The storm having now subsided, the sea was almost calm. There was a -full moon, but the clouds passing along over the sky, in detached -masses, frequently veiled it. - -Harry was pacing his beat, not far from the shrubbery in which Mary -had fancied she saw the savage, when he suddenly paused, with his ear -inclined to one side. - -Steps, mingled with the murmur of voices, were audible, apparently -approaching the hut! - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE ATTACK. - - -To waken Turk and Brand was the work of a moment. Both sprang up to -hear Harry's explanation. - -"We have no arms!" said Brand, "and so we had better be scuddin' off -as soon as possible!" - -Turk thrust his hand in his pocket, and pulling forth his flask of -grog, eyed it wistfully and anxiously. - -"Sooner than this should fall in the hands of them savages," he -exclaimed, "I had better put it, do you see where by rights it -belongs, meanin' the stomach of Tom Turk!" - -Up went the bottle, and the old tar seemed about drinking, when it -struck him that the liquor might, after all, come in use for Mary, in -case they should contrive to make their escape. With a heavy sigh he -thrust the bottle back into his pocket. - -Meanwhile the steps drew nearer. - -Harry waked Mary, and at once escorted her to the raft. Not a moment -too soon, for, with a sudden yell, a large party of fierce-looking -islanders, tattooed from head to foot, and looming up like demons in -the faint radiance of the moon, burst forth from a clump of shrubbery, -about fifty yards distant. - -Waving war clubs and spears, while their long hair streamed in -red, fiery clouds down their backs and shoulders, the wild fellows -certainly formed a hideous spectacle! - -Before the raft could be unfastened, a shower of spears came whizzing -round the heads of the little party. - -"Shove off! shove off!" screamed Brand, as he seized the raft-pole to -push the floating platform away from the beach. - -"Not yet!" cried Mary, noticing that her lover, who had paused to -collect the jackets left in the huts, and also a few of the biscuits, -was not upon the raft. - -In a moment the young man came panting to the beach. - -Brand, however, not heeding the girl's exclamation was about shoving -off, when Turk caught his arm. - -"Avast there, captain! Don't be in too much of a hurry!" - -Enraged, the latter glared upon the speaker, but this was no time for -quarreling. - -Harry now sprang from the raft. At the same moment two of the savages, -ahead of their companions, arriving, seized the rope attached to the -floating platform, which they endeavored to pull ashore. - -To prevent their doing so, Harry stepped to the edge of the raft, and -with the pole endeavored to strike them on the head. - -One of them seizing the pole, gave it a sudden jerk, thus pulling the -young man off into the water! - -With a fierce yell, they then pounced upon him, dragging him to the -beach! - -Feeling that there was not a moment to lose, the young man, by a -sudden movement, disengaged himself from their clutches; then, picking -up a spear, drove it through the body of one who had lifted his -war-club to beat out the sailor's brains! - -The other now aimed at Harry's head a furious blow, which must have -killed him, had it taken effect. - -Not so, however, for old Tom Turk, seeing his friend's peril, had -sprang ashore, and picked up another spear, which he thrust through -the back of the native! - -The scream of the dark-skinned fellow, as, throwing up his arms, he -fell backward, rang down the sky with startling distinctness, while -his friends, hearing that scream, and eager for vengeance, came -dashing on, yelling like a pack of wild hyenas! - -With a single bound through the water, Turk and Harry now gained the -raft, and were soon helping Brand, who had not even left his place, -push the floating platform out to sea. - -Luckily there was an outer current tending towards the reef, and which -drew the raft rapidly along towards the rocks. This soon was reached, -while the baffled yells of the savages continued pealing along the -waters. - -As the raft was drawn through an opening in the reef, and the party -put out to sea, Turk again drew forth his beloved grog, and eyed it -wistfully. - -"Ay, ay, bless your eyes!" said he, "you are too good to grease the -gullets of them blueskins." - -"Put up your grog, Turk," said Harry, "we have more important matters -to think of." - -"Ay, ay," said Brand, gruffly, "we've to think that we may be food for -fishes!" - -"Do you not believe we can reach the volcanic island, now?" inquired -Mary, as she glanced towards the red light, gleaming, far away, along -the waters. - -"It's hard tellin'," answered Brand. "If there's no heavy sea and we -can make head against the southern tendency of the current, we may -contrive to reach the island." - -With their poles which were not flat enough for paddles, the party -made slow progress. - -An hour had passed, when, suddenly, Mary pointed far astern towards a -long, dark object, apparently shooting out from the shore. - -"What is that?" - -"A canoe, by ----!" ejaculated Brand. "We may as well give up, now!" - -"No!" exclaimed Harry, resolutely. "We will not give up! If I mistake -not," he added, pointing towards a dark mass, floating through the air -to windward of them, "there is a fog coming up! This will screen us -from our pursuers!" - -"I am glad of that," said Mary, thankfully. - -"I'm not so sure it will screen us!" said Brand, "them savages are -cunnin' rascals!" - -"Where there's hope," remarked Turk, "there's no use of throwin' -clouds over the same." - -The fog came fast, and finally thickening around the party, they -seemed enclosed in a wall of darkness. - -"Hark!" said Harry, suddenly, as the dip of the canoe's paddles were -heard. "We must get the raft round, and try another course!" - -This, with some difficulty was done, when the clumsy vessel was urged -along to the southward. - -"Now, then, still as mice!" said Harry. - -He was obeyed, those on the raft scarcely breathing. - -A moment later something dark, indistinctly seen, was observed gliding -along past the raft and within twenty fathoms of it! - -It was the canoe! - -The weary hours of night wore away. - -Poor Mary had slept but little, although Turk and Harry had made her -a comfortable couch with their jackets. - -Now, as the gray dawn stole upon the waters, the young girl looked -round her with a weary sigh. - -The fog had cleared, the faint rays of the sun were beginning to tinge -the east, but, far and wide, nothing but sky and water were visible. - -Sky and water, and nothing aboard the raft--not even a morsel of bread -or a drop of fresh water. - -Already the girl began to feel the cravings of thirst. With powerful -effort, she endeavored to forget that she felt this want, but in vain. - -The day wore away, the sun went down, night began to settle upon the -waters. - -The men strained their eyes vainly for land or sail. - -Next morning the sufferings of all from thirst were intense. Brand, -pulling forth his bottle of gin, drank deeply, not offering a drop to -the rest. - -Then Turk presented his grog to Harry. - -"Give some to the poor lass!" - -Harry did so. She tasted a few drops, but could not be prevailed upon -to take more. - -Turk looked wistfully at the flask, then thrusting it back, muttered: - -"No--no! it must all be saved for that poor little girl, God bless her -eyes!" - -One--two--three days passed. Still adrift on the wilderness of ocean. -No sail--no land--no fresh water. - -God help the castaways! - -Brand was almost mad. His eyes gleamed like a tiger's--he gnashed his -teeth! - -Harry, too, was scarcely sane! Turk alone remained cool and careful, -although his sufferings were terrible. - -And Mary? - -Alas! poor girl--the flush on her sunken cheek burned deep and -red--her eyes were feverish--her panting breath came thick and -fast--she was too weak to sit up. - -There was no more liquor in Turk's flask. He had given all--every drop -to the young girl. - -So there they all were, still drifting along, a burning sun over their -heads, the water almost steaming around them. - -Gradually a sickly, yellowish mist went over the sun. - -Harry watched it a moment, then sprang to his feet, shrieking out: - -"Land, oh!" - -"Where? where?" queried Brand wildly. - -It was pointed out to him, all present saw it now. - -There was surely a misty line--a headland, extending away to the south -and west. - -"God be praised," murmured Mary, faintly; "oh Harry! Harry! we shall -get some fresh water now, and some beautiful fruit!" - -The poor creature smacked her lips and clapped her hands as the spoke. - -How tediously slow were the movements of the raft. - -On it went, however, apparently nearing the land every moment. - -At length it seemed scarcely a mile distant. - -"We will soon be there, now," exclaimed Mary. - -Suddenly a wail went up from the raft, a long, mournful wail--a half -shriek of astonishment, and bitter disappointment. - -The supposed land had suddenly vanished--blown away by a mere puff of -air. - -Alas! it was nothing but a fog bank! - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -DRIFTING ON. - - -As the delusive fog was swept away before the breeze, Brand uttered a -howl, and throwing himself down, dashed his head against one of the -planks of the raft. - -"Eat--drink! I must have something! Come, it is time!" - -And he drew forth a clasp knife, eyeing Mary at the same moment with a -wolfish gleam in the eyes not to be mistaken. - -The bare thought seemed to inspire Harry with a rage almost demoniacal. - -He threw himself upon the man, wrenching the knife from his grasp, and -hurling it into the sea. - -Then he caught the captain by the throat, and seemed on the point of -hurling him overboard. - -Turk, however, interfered. - -"That work won't do, lad! You'd be sorry for it when you got over sich -feelin's as at present agitates you. Let him alone, sir. We'll all -have sufferin' enough yet, I'll warrant ye!" - -Thus prevailed upon, not only by the old sailor but by the mingled -pleadings of Mary, Harry relaxed his hold of the fellow, who, with a -baffled howl, sank down, glaring at the water, as if hoping to see his -knife again rise to the surface. - -Meanwhile a fresh breeze now came along, wrinkling the water, and -falling upon the heated brows and parched lips of the raft's people, -inspiring sensations of relief. - -Harry took off his outside shirt, and with one of the raft poles, thus -formed a sail. - -"A queer piece of canvass, sartinly," said Tom Turk, mournfully; "but -as there's a to'gallant sail, we may as well have a topsail, do you -see?" - -So saying, he took off his shirt, which was also put upon the pole. - -The impetus thus given to the raft can be hardly credited. - -Away it went, rippling the water, at the rate of about three knots. - -It was nearly sundown, when Tom Turk suddenly balancing himself upon -his toes, was heard singing out: - -"Land, oh!" - -"Another delusion," bitterly exclaimed Harry, not even attempting to -rise from his position by Mary's side. - -"I'm sartin, this time!" exclaimed the old sailor; "fog never looks -like them black things thereaway," pointing westward. - -Harry and Brand were up in a moment, to discover that the old tar had -indeed spoken truth. - -Far away a number of rocks were seen, protruding from the sea. - -"Better no land at all than that," growled Brand, in a disappointed -voice. "We'll find no water there." - -On went the raft, and in due time the rocks were gained. They were -found to be about ten in number, and to rise several feet above the -surface of the sea. - -Brand was the first to spring ashore. Rushing forward, he was suddenly -seen to throw himself down. - -Harry and Turk were soon by his side, to perceive that he had found, -in a hollow of one of the rocks, a quantity of water, evidently lodged -there by a recent waterspout, and prevented from drying up by the -shadow from an overhanging cliff. - -It seemed as if the captain would never get his fill. - -He drank and drank, drawing in the water with a noise like that of a -horse at a trough. - -At last he rose. - -There was a gallon and a half of water still in the rocky basin. - -What a contrast now was presented between the conduct of Brand and -that of his shipmates. Turk filled his flask with the pure element, -and presented it to Harry, who at once passed it to Mary. - -"Drink first!" said the poor girl. - -Finding, however, that she could not prevail upon him to do so, Mary -at length drank her fill. - -The effect was magical. Her eyes brightened--the feverish hue seemed -to leave her cheek--she breathed a grateful sigh of relief. - -At the basin, Turk would not drink until his companion had first done -so. - -When all had partaken, there was still a quart of water left. - -Turk went to the raft, and, procuring his flask, in which there still -remained a few drops, he filled it from the hollow, and returning, -presented it to Mary. - -"This is for you, my lass," said he. - -Meanwhile, Brand filled his bottle, holding about twice as much as -Turk's. - -Neither Harry nor the old seaman said anything; but they exchanged -glances, which said plainly: - -"When we want water for the girl, we will know where to get it." - -Walking about the rocks, Harry suddenly uttered a glad cry. - -In some crevices among the rocks, he beheld a number of fat-looking -fish. - -"It seems as if heaven has sent these especially for our benefit, at -the right time," said the young man, joyfully, as Turk came to his -side. - -The old tar, however, looked sober. - -"It is easy enough," said he, "tellin' how them fish came here." - -"I don't understand you." - -"Well, then, I'll tell you. These rocks, is covered up at high tide. -That is how them fish came to be left here!" - -"We have our raft," said Harry, joyfully, "so that if the rocks do -overflow, we may thus get more fish!" - -"Ay, ay, it's all right, so long as the raft holds together," answered -Turk, "which I'm mighty afraid, won't be long," pointing at the -lashings holding the timbers together. - -These lashings were, in fact, much worn; some of them could not long -be made use of. - -"We must try to fix the raft," said Harry, "I dare say we can contrive -it so that we may keep afloat." - -From the raft the hungry men soon turned their attention to the fish. - -These were cooked with a couple of planks--there were plenty to -spare--torn from the raft and split up against the jagged edges of -the rocks, some of the fragments to be afterwards cut by Turk's -pocketknife, and lighted by matches which, sailor-like, the old tar -always carried with him in a small tin box, that they might be kept -dry. - -Meanwhile, Brand, while taking no part in these preparations, sat like -a hungry tiger eyeing the cooked fish. - -A portion was given to him; in fact, the whole party made a hearty and -palatable meal. - -Now, Mary, her wants having been relieved, again spoke of the volcanic -island. - -"I so wish we could fall in with some sail, which would take us -there," said she. "Oh, if I could only see my dear papa!" - -Brand shrugged his shoulders. - -"Hark!" he suddenly screamed, as the night shadows gathered, "I -fancied I heard a gurgling sound!" - -Neither of the rest had heard anything. - -"P'raps it was the wash of the waves against the rock," said Brand. - -Next morning the whole party rose after a slight rest--the men having -stood watch--to perceive that the water had risen nearly to the top of -the first rock. - -"The rock will soon be flooded," remarked Harry. - -"Ay, ay, so I'm afraid," said Turk. "We had better try to make the -raft stronger." - -Unfortunately, the men having no rope with them, succeeded but poorly. - -"Truth is," said Turk, aside to his friend, "I wouldn't trust -ourselves two days on them planks!" - -At this time the party stood upon one of the rocks. - -Suddenly Mary pointed down at the water, through which, all around -their position, a number of dark-looking fins now were seen, moving -hither and thither. - -"What are those things?" she inquired. - -"Sharks!" answered Harry and Turk, as they simultaneously drew the -young girl upon the raft. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -DRIVEN AWAY. - - -The water kept rising higher. - -Meanwhile, the sharks swam all round the rocks, and the raft, now and -then leaping forth, as if to clutch at the party. - -The sight of these ugly-looking creatures, with their long heads, -sharp fins, teeth, and dull, bloodshot eyes, inspired Mary with the -most disagreeable sensations. - -"Come!" said she, "let us leave this fearful place!" - -Turk shook his head. - -"It is our only salvation, Miss, I'm afraid." - -"Not much of a salvation, either," said Brand, pointing down at -several of the ferocious creatures, which had begun to gnaw at the -lashings of the raft. - -Vainly the men endeavored to drive them away; they clung with steady -tenacity to the lashings, biting with demon-like intelligence at the -rope strands, as if aware that the severing of these would put the -party in their power. - -Finally the seamen were obliged to get off the raft on the rocks, and -draw the planks after them, as the only means of pulling the lashings -away from the teeth of the troublesome monsters. - -The water, however, kept rising, so that it was necessary to get away -as soon as possible. - -The men did their best to strengthen the planks, then once more -launched their raft, actually driven away by the sharks. - -The tendency of the current and the wind now was to the westward. - -"At such a rate," said Turk, "shouldn't wonder if we find ourselves, -before two days, on the volcanic island." - -For this island the party had looked every day, while they were -afloat; but, for some reason or other, since the night of their first -floating away from the island, they had seen nothing of the smoke or -fire of the burning crater. - -The seamen had attributed this fact to the murky atmosphere westward, -shrouding the island from their view, while the raft had meanwhile -been carried further and further from it by the tide. - -When night came, after their leaving the rock, the bearings of which -they endeavored to keep in mind, they again looked for the light of -the volcano. The atmosphere, however, not having yet cleared, they -could see no sign of it. Hoping that the current would continue in -this direction and carry them to the island, they watched the west, -keenly yet vainly for a sign of the shore. - -Mary slept little that night. In the morning Harry pointed out to her, -far away, the land, evidently that which they were anxious to reach, -looming up, the mist having cleared. - -That it was the wished-for shore was made evident by a column of -smoke, rising up from the summit of one of the lofty island peaks. - -"Do you think we will reach it?" the young girl inquired. - -"I think so; if the set of the current does not change to the south," -answered Harry. - -He was right; before night the party were close upon the island shore. - -Mary's eyes lighted up with joy. Worn though she was by hardship and -suffering, she could yet feel a thrill of eager, pleasant expectation, -as she gazed at the beautiful shores of this island. - -Scarcely a mile in extent, and not more than half that in breadth, the -shores teemed with the most luxuriant vegetation. - -There were seen tall cocoanuts waving upon a bright, pebbly beach, -rocks covered with flowers and vines, cascades flashing and gleaming -as they glittered in the sunlight, and the broad waters of silver -streams, gliding along through mossy grounds. - -"Beautiful," said Mary, clapping her hands. "Papa! papa! are you -there?" - -She spoke half plaintively, half joyfully, clasping her hands like a -little child. - -Brand turned aside his head. Hardened as he was, the voice went -straight to his ruffian heart, and he felt at that moment as if he -would give worlds had he not committed the fearful crime which, after -all, had been perpetrated for nothing. - -Meanwhile Turk stood gazing steadily towards one of the island bays. - -"If I ain't mistaken," said he, "there's an old wreck of some kind -there!" - -"Ay, ay," cried Harry; "I see it--the wreck of a schooner, if we may -judge by the two stumps of her masts." - -It was almost sundown before the raft touched upon the beach. - -"We will commence our search for traces of your father," said Harry to -Mary, after all had refreshed themselves with luxurious bananas and -the remains of their fish, "by visiting that old wreck. If your parent -be here, he probably has visited the hulk, and perhaps left some sign -of his presence; a pipe, matches or something of that sort." - -"Who knows," said Mary, "but he has taken up his quarters there." - -"I'm afraid you are too hopeful, lass," said old Tom Turk, "'specially -as it was believed by all aboard the _Maxwell_ that the poor old man -was drowned after he fell overboard." - -"Yes," said Brand, shuddering; "I for one believe he was drowned." - -"I will go with you to the wreck," said Mary. - -"No," replied Harry, "it will be too much for you." - -The young girl, however, insisting, the whole party started for the -bay, which they could see from their position. - -A short walk brought them to the wreck. - -It was a schooner, and as had been supposed, with its two masts broken -short off near the deck. - -It lay almost upon its beam ends, firmly wedged in between two rocks. - -By mounting a small, flat rock near the larboard gunwale, the party -easily got aboard. Having done so, they entered the cabin. It was -devoid of all articles of furniture, these probably having been taken -away by some of the Indian visitors at the island. - -A candle, however, with an old piece of a clay pipe, a few nails, and -an empty box, were found. - -Turk took the candle, and endeavored to light it. This was done with -some difficulty, after which the party passed into the hold. Here, -saturated with salt water, which had broken in through the bottom of -the schooner, were seen several coils of old rope and a few empty -barrels. - -"All of which," philosophized Turk, "will come in good use, 'specially -if we can find some nails." - -After a long search, he came upon a bag of rusty nails, lying upon one -of the beams. - -"With these," said Turk, "we can manage to make a boat, leastways a -good raft." - -The flickering candle shed lurid light upon the old, creaking beams -of the schooner, as the party vainly searched the hold for signs of -Mary's father. - -"Thought it would be of no use," said Turk; "Poor old man, he was -drowned, you may be sartin." - -"Oh, papa! papa! would that I could find him!" wailed Mary, mournfully. - -Brand shuddered, as he always did, when the girl's father was -mentioned. - -Seating himself on a detached coil of rigging, with his back turned to -the rest of the party, he suddenly fancied he felt a strange, creeping -sensation stealing over his body; a feeling, as if a multitude of -worms, were crawling up his back. - -Instinctively he turned half round, to see his companions, already -leaving the hold, passing into the cabin. - -Some strange instinct prompted him to turn yet further round, when he -beheld a sight which for some moments kept him motionless, unable to -utter a word. - -In the faint light of the candle, streaming into the hold, he saw a -long, lean neck, surmounted by a face as bloodless and apparently -almost transparent, with hollow cheeks and protruding eyes, lifted -above a barrel at the other side of the hold. - -A strange looking face it was; a face of unearthly transparency, -apparently quivering like a vapor, while his eyes--those great, -staring eyes, were fixed strangely upon the captain. - -The latter, as mentioned, could not utter a word. To him the -apparition was doubly terrible, as it was that of the man whom he had -pushed overboard from the _Maxwell_. - -Yes, there it was, sure enough, the face of the unfortunate passenger, -William Manton. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -HAUNTED. - - -As Brand, like one spell-bound, continued staring at the strange -vision, he beheld the lean throat quivering, and heard issuing -therefrom a gurgling cry exactly like that on the fatal night. - -It was a horrible sound, especially to Brand, who, with one hoarse -scream, bounded backward on beholding the apparition suddenly vanish, -as if melting away in the air. - -At the noise made by Brand, Turk, followed by Harry, rushed back into -the hold. - -"What is the matter?" - -"Nothing," gasped Brand; "nothing at all." - -There were big drops of sweat upon his brow, his eyes protruded, while -great, purple rings spread around them. - -"Nothing," said Turk; "ay, ay, now, but there must be something the -matter with ye, Cap. D'ye feel hungry?" - -Perceiving that he must make some excuse, Brand puzzled himself trying -to think of some plausible one. - -"The fact is," said he, "I believe what we've gone through has -unstrung my nerves. I thought I felt a snake around my legs, when it -was nothing but a coil of rope." - -His auditors believed him all the more readily that they had by this -time concluded that the man, like most all thoroughly selfish people, -was a coward. - -In a short time they were out of the schooner, when Brand, who had -previously lagged, was now the foremost. - -In a short time they reached a level piece of turf about one hundred -yards from the wreck. - -This they concluded would be a good halting place, at least for the -present, and so they commenced the work of erecting shelters. - -This was soon done, after which they threw themselves down to rest, -Mary, as on the other island, occupying a bower apart from the others. - -The young girl slept but little that night. When she did full asleep, -her slumber was troubled with disagreeable dreams. The roaring of the -volcano whose red gleam could be seen far up through the shrubbery, -shooting from one of the island peaks, mingled with her fancies, and -seemed the report of countless volleys of musketry. - -At morn, after partaking of a frugal breakfast, the party consulted as -to their next course. - -Turk wanted to commence at once upon his boat, Brand, sullen, -glowering and silent, seemed inclined to do nothing, while Mary and -Glenville concluded to walk off by themselves to explore the island. - -Striking through the shrubbery, the young people soon found themselves -at the foot of the peak on which was the volcano. - -They could see the smoke and the flashes of fire shooting up, could -also feel the ground shake under them, as if the flames were careering -beneath their very feet. Watching the volcano awhile, they moved on. - -"Let us explore the island thoroughly," said Mary, "we may yet come -upon some trace of my parent." - -"Why is it, Mary," inquired Harry, "that you seem so confident on this -subject?" - -"My father," answered the young girl, "was an excellent swimmer. I -have heard him say he once swam across the East River, New York, while -a boy. - -"Then again the captain informed me that, in falling overboard, it was -found that my parent had carried away with him a plank, which, from -carelessness, had been left hanging loosely over the stern. Now what -more likely than that with the help of the plank, and this island but -two miles to leeward, he should succeed in reaching it?" - -Harry shook his head. - -"Of course," said he, "such things have happened, but I have no idea -that your father reached the island." - -For several hours the two walked over the isle, which they found to -be a beautiful place. There were flowers of almost every hue, clear, -purling streams, rocks, caverns and cascades, while through the green -shrubbery the banana and the breadfruit were visible. - -The wanderers, however, came upon no traces of Mr. Manton, and Harry -could see that his companion's hopes in this respect were almost -extinguished. - -Returning to the spot where the shelters were located, they found Turk -already at work upon his boat, assisted by Brand. - -"You are making good progress," remarked Harry. - -"Ay, ay," answered Turk, "there's no chance for laziness, now. The -sooner we leave this island the better, accordin' to my notion." - -The old tar spoke solemnly. - -"Ay," said Captain Brand, "that's my opinion. Hark! did ye hear that?" - -A roaring, rumbling sound was heard, right under their feet; the -ground trembled violently. - -"It is the subterranean fire of that volcano," said Harry. "I hardly -think there is much danger." - -He said this to quiet the fears of Mary, who turned pale and looked -anxious. - -"To my notion," said Turk, "it's devils a-lightin' their brimstone -right under us, hopin' in that way to catch us. It's plain they're -after some one among us, which I may premise by sayin' ain't me nor -Harry, nor this young lass." - -Brand frowned darkly. - -"How know you that I'm not as good as the rest of you," said he. - -"Honestly speakin', Cap, I don't think you are," exclaimed the old -tar, bluntly. - -"I've always led a good life," said Brand, shunning the great blue -eyes of Mary. - -There was a rumble like thunder under ground, then a report like the -discharge of musketry. - -"The devils is a-firin' off their muskets to celebrate that lie of -yours, Cap," remarked Turk, as he turned to his work. - -The party now felt anxious. The noises under ground continued, the -island shook, while increased volumes of fire shot up from the -volcanic peak. - -Harry now assisted Turk in his work on the boat. There had been found -that morning in the schooner an old hatchet with which Turk had -knocked away a large quantity of timber from the wreck to be conveyed -to the spot where he intended erecting his boat. - -Working all day, the men made good progress. - -Brand worked as hard as the rest. It was not the danger from the -volcano alone that urged him on in his efforts, but the continual -harassing fear, of again beholding that fearful apparition of his -drownded victim. - -At night the aspect of the volcano was terrific. There were the lurid -flames, apparently shooting to the very skies, while whole showers -of sparks were thrown out in fiery flakes that filled all the air, -floating along like millions of fireflies over the sea, in the water -of which the were reflected. - -Meanwhile the shocks became every moment more frequent, the ground -shaking as if beneath the tramp of armed horsemen. - -Harry had advanced into the thicket a short distance, when he became -aware of a hissing sound, as if thousands of serpents were around him. - -At the same moment, a broad, bright stream of something flashed up -before him, apparently descending towards him with great rapidity. - -Now he comprehended that it was a stream of lava, thrown from the -volcanic crater, and rushing down the side of the steep cliff. - -In fact he had not time to reach the spot where he had left his -companions, when it came hissing and rushing into the thicket, which -he had just left. - -All night a careful watch was kept, the raft with additional timbers -secured to it being in readiness for the party to leave at a moment's -notice. - -Nothing more than the shocks, with the fall of additional lava -occurred, however, to disturb the party. - -"I doubt if anything serious happens, after all," said Harry. - -Turk pointed to a couple of fissures in the side of the cliff. - -"That looks bad," said he; "in my opinion, this island goes in less -than forty-eight hours." - -Good progress was made on the boat this day. - -At night watching the volcano, Mary suddenly uttered a wild cry, and -pointed up towards an overhanging rock beneath the crater. - -"What is it?" was the question. - -"I don't know," said Mary, shuddering, "but just now I am certain I -saw a form appear, and then suddenly vanish upon that shelf of rock." - -"Are you sure?" - -"Yes." - -Turk looked solemn; Brand turned deadly pale. - -"It must have been a spirit," said the old tar; "some imp after you, -Cap," he added, looking straight at Brand. - -"Ay, a spirit," muttered the captain, his teeth chattering. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -ON THE LEDGE. - - -"This must be looked into," said Harry, resolutely. "Who will go with -me to the ledge?" - -"No--no--do not go," pleaded Mary, "see how the fire rages! The peak -may explode before you come down, and you be swallowed up in the -flames!" - -Harry however was determined to go. - -"If nobody will go with me," said he, "I will go alone." - -Mary advanced to his side. - -"I will go with you," said she; "if you are to perish, I will die with -you." - -The young man, however, would not permit the girl to accompany him. - -"If what was seen was mortal," said Turk, "why, then, I'd go with you; -but I don't care to have anything to do with spirits and sich like, -which can give you a poke in the stomach, do you see, and yet you not -be able to square off to 'em." - -"Very well, then, I go alone," said Harry, as he sprang away. - -He had not reached the foot of the cliff, when he felt a hand on his -arm, and turned to behold Turk. - -"Fact is," said the latter, "I won't see ye go alone, but if there's -any fightin' to do with ghosts, you mustn't expect me to help you, for -when I aim at a nose, I like to hit it, which is impossible with the -noses of goblins and sich like, as your fist will go right through -'em." - -The two soon were at the foot of the cliff, which both now commenced -to ascend. As they advanced, the rumbling beneath them seemed to -increase, shaking the cliff to its foundation. - -At length they arrived near the ledge, where the heat was almost -unbearable. On one side of them there was a wide cleft, in which a -line of fire was seen, glowing like a red hot iron. The slightest -mis-step on the part of the adventurers in their endeavors to reach -the ledge, must precipitate them into the cleft. - -To get to their destination, they must move along a narrow ridge not -more than two inches wide, with nothing at the side of the rock to -clutch except a slightly rugged surface which must afford them a very -insecure hold. - -"This is dang'rous traveling," remarked Turk, "worse than walkin' on a -railroad track over a rottin bridge." - -The two kept on, carefully making progress, until finally they were -close to the ledge, upon which a sudden spring carried them. - -Winding round the cliff, they could now see another ledge, but no sign -of the strange figure. They clambered the rocky surface, exploring it -on all sides, but saw no sign of what they were after. - -"To my notion," said Turk, "that goblin has gone down to take a -siesta, do you see, preparatory to comin' up agin, which, I take it, -is a good hint fur us to make leg-bail." - -"What is this?" inquired Harry suddenly, stooping and picking up a -singular object. - -It was a cocoanut branch twisted into an odd shape, bearing some -resemblance to a pronged fork. - -"Ay, ay, now, there's the pitchfork for sartin!" exclaimed Turk; "that -goblin has left his instrumental be--behind him, and we may yet come -upon his tail!" - -"Hark, Turk," said Harry, somewhat sternly, "you must not talk in -that way. This is in fact, no time for joking. See there," pointing -above them as he spoke, to where lurid flames were shooting out from -crevices in the rock, thus preventing their ascent. - -Gazing below them they beheld the dark tops of the trees, far beneath. - -There was no means by which they could reach the ground. - -The flames meanwhile burning brighter and longer, every moment, until -finally they scorched the flesh of the two men, whose situation from -the intense heat, was becoming intolerable. - -For a moment they stood looking at each other, puzzled to know what to -do. - -Then a sudden thought flashed across Harry's mind. - -"There are coils of rope in the schooner," said he; "we can start from -here to Brand, who, probably, is watching us, telling him to bring up -and lower to us one of those coils of rope." - -"Ay, ay, if he ain't afraid," answered Turk. - -The two men shouting with united voices, pronounced the captain's name. - -"Halloa!" was the response. - -"We cannot get back the way we came. Bring us a rope from the -schooner's wreck, and lower it to us." - -Brand shuddered and turned pale. - -Mary, who was near, besought him to hurry. - -"No," he answered, in husky voice, "I do not care to go aboard that -schooner!" - -"Then I will go!" cried Mary, and away she went. - -Bad as he was, Brand was yet man enough not to permit this girl to -undertake such a difficult task. - -He sprang after her, and soon boarding the schooner, advanced with -lighted candle into the hold, casting fearful glances around him. - -He saw nothing, however, to excite alarm, and so seizing a small coil, -he emerged with it on deck. - -He was about climbing over the bulwarks, when, chancing to turn his -head towards the schooner's bows, he fancied he saw the phantom face -of the drowned passenger as it was hastily withdrawn! - -"P'shaw, this is mere imagination," muttered the captain, as he -sprung over the rail to the beach, where he found Mary anxiously -waiting for him. - -"Quick! make haste!" exclaimed the young girl. - -It almost seemed to Brand, as he encountered the gaze of those wild -eyes, that he beheld a second phantom, so alike were the eyes of -father and daughter. - -Throwing the coil over his shoulders, he hurried along to the cliff -and commenced the ascent, followed by Mary, who, in her anxiety for -her lover's safety, would almost have followed the man into the very -flames. - -In a short time they were at a point, whence the rope might be lowered -to the two imperiled men upon the ledge. - -Brand, therefore, uncoiling the line, lowered the end to them at a -point where the flames could not come into contact with it, fastening -the other part to a spur. - -It was evident, however, that the two must make good speed, else the -strands would become so weakened by the heat that there would be -danger of their giving way. - -The two men found the rope, where they lowered it over the edge of the -rocky shelf, long enough to reach to the ground, about one hundred and -fifty feet beneath them. - -Then Turk commenced the descent, succeeding in reaching the ground -safely. - -By this time the strands were so weakened that Brand was obliged to -haul the rope up, to prevent its parting, and secure another turn -around the rocky spur. - -Then Harry, grasping the lower part, commenced to descend. He had got -within about one hundred and twenty feet of the ground and within a -few feet of the top of one of the trees, when from the branches, the -captain, whose position afforded him a good view of the trees revealed -in the volcano's lurid light, uttered a sudden wild cry, that rang -above the din of the roaring fire. - -Protruding from the foliage of the tree, towards which Harry was being -lowered, the man beheld the long, lean neck and ghastly countenance -of the apparition he so dreaded. - -So great was the effect of this vision upon him that he let go the -rope which descended swift as a shot. - -Where now was Harry Glenville? - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -CAPTURED. - - -Mary, shrieking, peered far over the edge of the rock, vainly looking -for her lover. - -"Killed! killed!" she wailed, wringing her hands. "My God, he is -dashed to pieces on the ground, by your letting go of the rope!" - -"I?" exclaimed the captain, looking wild and half bewildered. - -"Ay, God! it is so!" - -The vision had by this time vanished. Partially recovering his -self-possession, the captain hurried down the steep cliff, following -Mary, who, like a maniac, ran on. - -She soon gained the foot of the precipice, and was hurrying along in -the direction where she expected to find the remains of her lover all -mangled from his fall of sixty feet, when suddenly, she felt some -person grasp her arm, and turning, beheld Brand. - -"Let me go! Why hold me?" screamed the young girl, wildly. - -"See, there!" he answered, pointing towards the beach, "that is the -reason!" - -Looking in the indicated direction, she beheld, in the lurid glare of -the volcanic fire, a long canoe, by the beach. - -Evidently it was the same which had pursued them on that day when the -two warriors were slain. - -Bent on vengeance, the islanders had not yet given up the pursuit, but -had searched for the fugitives ever since, at last coming upon their -traces. - -Now the forms of the fierce men were seen advancing swiftly in single -file up the beach, on a course, which, had Mary kept on, must have -brought her into contact with them. - -"Never mind," she exclaimed; "let me go to his body! What care I if -they do kill me, so long as I get a glimpse of his form?" - -Brand, however, held her firmly. - -He felt that he should at least partially atone for his crime by -saving the daughter of the man he had sent to his death. - -"Come! come with me! This is madness." - -Mary struggled in vain. Brand drew her along with him into the shadow -of a small cavern in the foot of the cliff. - -"Hark!" he said, "you must not cry out." - -Attracted probably by her cries, several natives soon presented -themselves at the entrance of the cavern. - -Brand, being unarmed, could do nothing. Several spears were pointed at -his heart and that of his companion. - -An islander--a huge fellow with great rings tattooed like bracelets -all over both his arms; evidently a chief, interposed. - -"No strike!" he exclaimed, in broken English, "this's too much quick -death. Best take and chokee slow." - -"What do you mean?" inquired Brand. - -"Cussem Americanon!" said the chief, fiercely, "kill one two me men! -Mus' pay for dat." - -"You are mistaken," answered Brand; "I never killed a man. It wasn't -me." - -"All same you with," answered the islander. "Ho! ho! never get way -from me--me got long canoe." - -The two were dragged to the beach, bound with strong wythes, and were -made to sit down upon the sand. - -Then a brief conversation was held, after which, the chief said -something to several of his men. - -Away they went, climbing up a tree, and procuring several branches. - -These they brought to the chief, who, passing them round the neck of -the prisoners so tightly that both were nearly throttled, then turned -again and spoke to his people. - -Instantly the latter, seizing the two, dragged them up to their necks -into the water, where they were firmly held with the incoming seas -continually breaking over their heads. - -A slow, torturing method this to make way with prisoners. It is -however resorted to by many of the South Sea Island tribes. - -At first the victim easily manages to catch his breath between -whiles. Gradually, however, this becoming harder, and the difficulty -increasing every moment, the wretches are eventually strangled to -death. - -Poor Mary! The hardships and excitement she had lately undergone were -of themselves sufficient to deprive an ordinary woman of her strength. -This young girl, however, had an excellent constitution and, when -occasion required, a strong will. Now the intensity of her anguish -regarding her lover had so worked upon her, that, with this new -torture before her, she became unconscious. - -Heedless of this, however, the native having charge of her, still held -her upright in the water, until the chief again interfered. - -"Makee muchee now long," said he. - -The two were drawn out to the beach, Brand, however, being informed -that the disagreeable ceremony would before morning, be repeated, -until he was drownee, drownee, drownee. - -Soon after Mary came to her senses. At first somewhat bewildered, she -soon remembered all. - -"Dead! dead!" she moaned, "he is dead." - -The natives heeded not her sufferings. On the contrary, they seemed to -gloat over her distress. - -An hour wore on when the prisoners were again led into water, the seas -breaking high, continually went over their heads. - -Mary soon drew her breath with difficulty--her brain went round and -round, she felt that she was dying. - -In fact, life must have deserted her in a few minutes, but for a -singular interposition, the phantom-like figure which has been -mentioned, appearing suddenly on the branch of a tree and waving its -arms to the natives in a frantic manner. - -"Berch, hounds and dogs!" it exclaimed in hollow voice; "what would ye -do. I forbid this work. Terrible misfortune will attend ye, if ye keep -on thus persecuting those prisoners." - -Brand, hearing that voice, turned his head. - -As he did so, the form suddenly vanished. - -The natives stood looking at each other in surprise. Brand noticing -their astonishment, thought he might turn it to good account. - -No other consideration but that of saving his life could have tempted -him to speak of the vision of the murdered passenger to a living soul. - -"Indians," said he, "I would at once speak to your chief." - -The men who held him understood him sufficiently to make known his -request to their leader, who, forthwith, appeared floundering through -the water. - -"What want? Speak quick!" - -"Well, then," said Brand, shuddering, "he whom you saw just now among -the trees, was no mortal vision. It is a phantom!" - -"How know you that?" - -"If the chief will take me a little ways off I will tell him," said -Brand, not caring to have the young girl hear what he intended to say. - -The chief did as requested, when Brand explained, saying that the -phantom was that of a passenger who had accidentally fallen overboard -from a vessel aboard which he (Brand), was third officer. - -The superstitious natives are prone to believe weird stories, and the -chief was no exception to the rule. - -To his awe-stricken followers he at once explained what he had -learned, when it was unanimously agreed that the lives of the two -prisoners should be spared, at least for the present. - -No good, the natives all agreed, could come of their disobeying the -injunctions of a spirit. - -Mary and Brand were therefore taken and seated near a bright fire, -which had been kindled for comfort by their enemies. - -They were treated to cooked breadfruit, cocoanut sauce, and other -delicacies of the South Sea Islanders. Brand ate heartily, but poor -Mary, almost maddened by her grief, would not even look at what was -proffered her. - -"Harry is dead! dead!" was the continual cry of her anguished soul. - -Meanwhile the whole island was rocking like a floating ship. Showers -of fire, roaring thunder, flew from the volcanic peak. - -The natives looked at each other. Presently the chief spoke. - -"The islee will be swallowed in fire," said he; "the spirit which -spoke, did not tell right. It is a bad spirit, which Islander must not -mind. It said if Islander spare white men's life, no harm come. See! -here is harm. The island will be lost before Islander can find all -their foes." - -Such was the purport of the chief's words, uttered however, in a more -incomprehensible manner than we have shown. - -"Yes," continued the speaker, "so we say we must killee! killee," -pointing at the two prisoners; "must killee quickee, no slow now." - -He held a brief consultation with some of his men, four of whom now -advanced toward the girl and Brand, each of which was lifted between a -couple. - -"Quickee--go!" screamed the chief, when each of the pair, with their -burdens commenced rapidly scaling the sides of the steep ascent. - -Good need it now seemed, was there of their making swift speed. - -They kept on with all possible dispatch, eventually pausing upon a -lofty spire, far up on the very top of the mountain. - -This spur, rising to a height of about forty feet from the edge of -the volcanic crater, overlooked the chasm of fire, which, like the -infernal lake itself, lay at its base, shooting its forked tongues of -roaring, hissing flame high in air! - -And now the prisoners comprehended the fate intended for them, for the -natives driving them to and fro, preparing to fling them into that -lurid, roaring, crackling sea of fire! - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -WALLED IN. - - -To repeat a previous question. - -Where now was Harry Glenville? - -On feeling himself descending, after Brand let go of the rope to which -he was clinging, the young man, instinctively throwing out his arms, -was fortunate enough to grasp the branch of the tree through which his -falling form was crashing. - -To this branch he clung, swinging a hundred feet above the ground. - -Every moment he expected that the branch, which was a slender one, and -which he held near the extremity, would part. He could hear it crack, -every time he swung. - -Above him, faintly revealed in the lurid light, he could meanwhile -see a larger and stronger branch, which he hoped he might, by a -sudden upward stretching of an arm, succeed in grasping. Still there -was danger that he might miss his grasp, when he would certainly be -precipitated upon the ground below. - -Still considering whether or not to make the attempt, he suddenly -heard the cheery voice of Tom Turk: - -"Hold on hard, lad, and I'll be up there to help ye, in the tyin' of a -square knot!" - -"Make haste!" exclaimed Harry, "as I expect, every minute, that the -branch I hold will give way." - -"Ay, ay. Keep up a good heart. My climbin' days ain't quite over yet!" - -As he spoke, Turk commenced rapidly ascending the tree, running up -the trunk with the squirrel-like dexterity of a true sailor. - -He had with him the end of the fallen rope, thrown over his shoulder. - -In a short time, he was upon the brunch, just above the swinging form -of his friend. - -The latter's weight had nearly parted the branch, strips of which were -already beginning to peel off. - -"Make haste, Turk!" repeated the young man. - -"Ay, ay, lad! here's the rope!" cried Turk, lowering to his friend the -end, to which he had fastened a bowline hitch; "jest slip that over -your head, and under one of your arms, and I'll have ye up in half a -minute." - -Harry promptly complied, not a moment too soon, for with a crash, the -branch now gave way. - -The young man would have gone with it, in spite of the bowline hitch, -which he had not yet been able to properly secure, but for his -throwing up both hands and grasping the rope. - -Turk, who had taken a turn round the upper branch, was thus enabled to -draw him safely up. - -In a few seconds both men were on the ground, about to move in the -direction of the base of the cliff to meet Mary and Brand, when they -beheld the forms of the natives, stealing along from their canoe. - -"Ay, ay, now!" whispered Turk, "this is calamitous." - -"We must save Mary at all hazards," exclaimed Harry, impulsively, as -he bounded forward. - -"S--sh!" whispered Turk, "jest see there! They have got the poor gal -and that Brand already," pointing to the natives, lugging of their -prisoners. - -Harry would have sprang onward unarmed as he was, to attack the two -savages, but for the cooler and more prudent Turk. - -"Hold!" he whispered, grasping his friend's jacket, "can't do anything -in a hurry, which do you see, will salle all." - -Even as he spoke, another party of savages were observed, approaching -them. - -"Now, then, fur scuddin!" said Turk, "no use stayin' here to be -speared to death, which is a most uncomfortable way of dyin', -'specially when you are afterwards b'iled in a pot for the blueskins' -dinner." - -He drew the young man along to a clump of bushes near the base of an -enormous tree. - -"I've sighted this tree before," said he, "which I know is holler. -It's big enough to hold you and me. Afterwards we can see to the gal, -if there's any way to save her, whereas if we should try now, we'd -only be killed, which sartinly would be a poor way for keepin' the -lass." - -Harry saw the sense of this remark at once. With the old seaman, he -crouched in the bushes. - -"Well have to get into the tree, mole fashion," said Turk, "see'n' as -the hole leading to the inside of it, is scooped out underneath." - -So saying he displaced some bushes, and bade his friend crawl into the -aperture thus revealed. - -Harry did so, and was soon followed by Turk. - -In the hollow tree, the two now glanced up, to see through an opening -in the trunk, broken half way off, the lurid gleam of the volcanic -fire. - -"Here we are, moles as is moles!" exclaimed Turk. - -Meanwhile the shouts of the savages, who, it was evident, had now -come upon the footprints of the two seamen on the ground, were heard -outside of the tree. - -"They will of course discover us, after all!" said Harry, "and we will -have to die. Better to have fallen in defense of Mary." - -Turk scratched his head. By the red gleam, shooting down into the -hollow, Harry could see a troubled expression upon the old seaman's -face. - -"Ay, ay," he muttered, at length, "the Turks never was good at -strategic p'nts. I had a grandfather, who, to save himself from a mad -bull, throwed himself, in tryin' to leap over it, partly upon the -creatur's horns, which, penetratin' the seat of his breeches, held -him expended in that way until he was relieved by friends!" - -The old tar had scarcely thus delivered himself, when, chancing to -glance down, he beheld the tattooed face of a savage, thrust under the -trunk of the tree, peering up at him. - -Before he could utter a word, however, the face was withdrawn. - -Next moment a sound, as of men busy at work piling something around -the tree, was heard. - -Soon after all was still. - -The two men held a consultation. Doubtless the savages were somewhere -not far off, waiting for them to emerge. - -Nevertheless, they determined to make an attempt to escape from their -present retreat. - -Turk was the first to stoop for the purpose of passing out, when an -exclamation broke from his lips. - -"What's the matter?" inquired Harry. - -"Matter enough!" was the reply; "we are walled in with arth so that we -can't get out!" - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -IN THE TREE. - - -For a moment the two stood eyeing each other, with looks of dismay. - -"Can't we burrow our way out?" queried the young man. - -"I'm afraid not. Them rascals knowed what they were doin' when they -fastened us up. In my opinion, we are to be left in this hollow tree -to be swallered up with the island when it goes!" - -Harry glanced up. The opening in the top of the trunk was about -fifteen feet above them. There was no way for them to reach it! - -The young man bowed his face on his hand. - -"I would have been willing--would have cheerfully died," said he, -"in helping poor Mary; but to perish far away from that girl without -having lifted a hand in her defense is very mortifying!" - -"Ay, ay," said Turk, "and this is a lesson to me never to give advice -in the futur'--if there be any futur' left for me on this arth! I'm as -sorry as you can be, that I got you to give up follerin' the lass at -once!" - -For several moments the two men stood, glancing up through the opening -in the trunk, which being directly beneath the volcano, afforded them -a good view of it. - -The huge crater was spouting showers of flame and sparks, which seemed -to increase in quantity every moment. - -Meanwhile the roaring noise of the subterranean fires was becoming -louder. The ground shook with the thunder in its bosom, until the very -tree in which the two men were ensconced began to tremble. - -"The 'castrophy' must soon take place!" exclaimed Turk; "wish you'd -l'arn me to say a few prayers before we are swallered up! That is," -continued the old tar, "I did l'arn my catechism, once upon a time, -but it's so long ago that the idee has been blowed out of my head by -the squalls and gales I've weathered, do you see!" - -Harry answered not. His mind was full of bitter reflections, in the -midst of which his Mary, suffering in the hands of the savages, -occupied a prominent part. - -"Perhaps we may burrow out of this!" he exclaimed, at length, "at all -events, let us try!" - -So saying, he stooped, and went to work with hands and nails. - -He made some progress, but he had not dug a foot, when his hands came -into contact with a hard substance, which resisted all his efforts to -move it. - -It was a heavy stone, almost a rock in size, which had been shoved -against the opening. - -"No hope!" he said, despairingly. - -As he spoke, a wild yell was heard without, followed by the noise of -approaching steps. - -The steps drew nearer; there was a halt made alongside the tree, then -followed a noise of dry branches being dragged along and piled round -the trunk. - -"Ay! ay!" exclaimed Turk, aghast, "them heathens ain't even goin' to -give us a chance to die in them underground flames, but is agoing to -pile faggots and burn us at once." - -Harry shuddered. - -Then the thought occurred to him that perhaps Mary had perished in a -similar manner. - -In a few minutes the crackling of flames, betokened that the old tar -had guessed aright. - -The fire was wreathing and twining around the trunk of the tree, the -inside of which was every moment growing hotter. - -"Ay, ay," moaned Turk, despondingly, "we are all a-goin' to be baked -alive, as if we were two clams instead of humanized bein's!" - -Hotter became the seamen's narrow quarters every moment. Tongues of -flames were now seen creeping through crevices in the trunk. - -The sap oozed with a hiss like a serpent's, while the smoke entering -the hollow, almost suffocated the occupants. - -Heated, almost blinded, their flesh scorched, the sufferings of the -twain were becoming fearful. - -In the lurid glare each could see the eyeballs of the other rolling -wildly in his head, and hear his panting breath drawn with difficulty. - -"This is intolerable!" gasped Harry; "would that the rascals would -spear us, and thus at once put an end to our torment." - -There seemed, however, no probability of their doing this. - -Meanwhile there were none of the manifestations of exultation and -triumph peculiar to the North American savages. - -Nothing was to be heard above the din of the roaring and crackling -flames, save a low, guttural croaking of quiet satisfaction, such as -might have been uttered over chunks of roast beef cooking on a spit. - -"Ay, ay," muttered Turk, who for some time had been dancing up and -down with pain, "I feel as if the gravy was already a-oozing out of my -body." - -As he spoke, he chanced to glance upward, when he was startled by -the apparition of a face, half concealed by a great green leaf, -(protruding downward from under an old cap) thrust through the opening -in the top of the trunk, while the rest of the body was screened by -the thick branches around it. - -"Hist! Stand by! I'll save you both if I can!" said the stranger in a -shrill, penetrating whisper, "on one condition!" - -For several moments the two men were so surprised that they could only -stand motionless, looking up at the intruding face, without uttering a -word. - -Harry was the first to speak. - -"Who are you! How came you there?" - -"It don't matter. I am only half human, at any rate. On one condition -I said I'd save you." - -"Name it, name it, my man!" cried Turk, "and you'll see how quick we'll -comply. But I'd think the savages would see you up there?" - -"No; the branches and leaves are too thick. The leaf over my face -hides it from them while my body is in shadow." - -"Name that ere condition of yours then, quick!" exclaimed Turk. - -"Well, it is that you save my money!" - -"Your money?" - -"Yes I cannot get to it now. I beg you will save me my precious money." - -"Where is it!" inquired Turk, "if you'll jist tell me that p'raps I -can----" - -"It's in a little cleft in the right side of the trunk in a bag. You -may feel it by putting your hand there. Oh! my money--my precious -money! that must not be sacrificed!" - -Turk felt along the trunk until finally his hand struck a deep cleft -notched in the wood, when he felt the bag and drew it forth. - -It emitted a clinking sound. - -"Ay, ay, that's it!" whispered the stranger; "now unfasten the cord -from it, and throw the end up to me, when I will draw you safely out -of the hollow!" - -Turk instantly proceeded to do as directed. Unwinding the cord which, -though small in thickness, was as tough as a clothes-line, he was -glad to perceive that it was long enough to reach to the top of the -trunk. - -Meanwhile, in spite of his sufferings, he could not forbear peeping -into the bag, which, he at once perceived was full of shining pieces -of gold. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -OUT OF THE TREE. - - -"What avail is all this?" said Harry; "it is likely the savages have -already heard our conversation. Besides, they will certainly see us, -when we are drawn up out of the top of the trunk." - -"It ain't likely they've heard us," said Turk, "as there's sich an -infernal din with the roarin' of the fire here and the volcano above; -but as to their seein' us, I dare say that may happen." - -"Throw me the cord--quick!" cried the stranger, "and let me haul you -up here with my precious gold!" - -Turk threw the end of the cord. - -"You may go first," said Harry to the old tar. - -"Not a bit of it, lad!" answered Turk; "I ain't one of that sort, do -ye see! There's no hurry for me. Your life is more valuable than that -of sich an old lubber as your humble servant, Tom Turk." - -Harry, however was firm. - -He fastened the end of the line quickly under the armpits of the -sailor, and ordered the stranger to haul away. - -Assisted by his own efforts and by the pulls from the man above, Turk -soon was drawn through the opening. - -Then a savage yell proclaimed that he was seen, and the trick to -effect of his release discovered by the natives. - -"Quick, my lad!" shouted Turk, throwing down the line to his friend, -as several spears whizzed round his head. - -"Give me my gold!" almost shrieked the stranger, as he snatched the -bag from the old seaman's pocket, and thrust it into his own, "and -stand by to follow me, if you'd escape the natives." - -"Jist hold on a minnit!" said Turk, clutching the man by the arm; -"I don't know who you be; whether you be humanized or t'otherwise, -but one thing is sartin, it's playin' us a very scaly trick fur you -a-tryin' to get off, when you know that the life of a feller creatur' -is still to be saved." - -"Quick then, quick!" screamed the stranger, "don't you perceive that -the natives are going to fling more spears?" - -"They can't hurt ye, if you ain't human," said Turk--then he added, -eyeing the stranger curiously, "if you have what's tarmed a caudal -canpendage, that is a tail, do you see, as all non-human bein's has, I -wish you'd show it, so that I may know whose acquaintance I have the -honor of makin." - -"Whiz! whiz! buz-z-z!" came more spears, passing within a few inches -of the speaker's head. - -While talking, Turk had not neglected his friend, who by this time had -passed the line round his breast and given the word to haul. - -The two pairs of arms soon had him up, when turning, the stranger was -seen running along a branch extending from the burning tree to another. - -"There goes either the devil or a spook!" said Turk; "it's the -queerest creatur' I ever saw, thinkin' of its gold under sarcumstances -like the present." - -"Follow me, follow me, if you would escape," the man was now heard -screaming out at the top of his voice. - -The seamen obeyed, gliding after the figure, which seemed to dart -along with the speed of a squirrel. - -Having gained the other tree, the strange guide descended half way, -then, by a drooping branch, swung himself quickly to the ground. - -Harry and his friend followed, the twain being pursued by the savages. - -Every nook and corner seemed familiar to the leader. - -On he went, dashing away with a speed which rapidly widened the -distance between him and his followers. - -By powerful efforts, however, the two men continued to keep in sight. - -Finally Harry paused. The steps of the savages were heard crashing -along but a short distance behind him. - -"Come on!" cried Turk, seizing the other's arm. - -"No," answered the latter, "the man is evidently carrying us further -and further from Mary. For my part, I shall endeavor to ascertain the -fate of the girl, if I die for it." - -All efforts of his friend to persuade him to keep on proved unavailing. - -"Well, one thing is sartin," said the old tar, "where you go, there, -sir, Tom Turk, who never yet deserted a chum, goes too!" - -"Thank you," answered Glenville, squeezing the arm of his friend. - -Stepping to one side, and crouching in the shrubbery, Turk persuaded -Harry to do the same. - -At this time, these two men were concealed from the savages by a high -rock, round the angle of which they had passed. - -The natives, when they made the turn, believing that the two had kept -on, continued the pursuit in a straight line, seeing the form of the -strange guide, faintly visible in the far distance. - -When the savages had passed, making straight for the burning peak, -Harry and his companion rose. - -"Which way now?" inquired Turk. - -"Towards the beach. There we may find Mary, either dead or alive, as -there, it would seem, the greater number of the savages are gathered." - -Accordingly, they moved toward the beach, cautiously keeping in the -shadow of the shrubbery, when they finally found themselves within -about fifteen feet of a spot occupied by a dozen warriors, all of -whom stood upright, their glances bent upon the steep sides of the -volcanic cliff. - -"What is that?" inquired Harry, suddenly, trembling in every limb. - -"There are savages speeding up the cliff, and if I mistake not, I -just saw the gleam of a light dress, as if the rascals were bearing a -female between them." - -"Ay, ay," said Turk. "I saw it too, and it was sartinly a most -melancholy sight." - -"That woman that we saw could of course be none other than Mary -Manton," said Harry. "Come, we will at least die fighting for the -girl." - -Before his friend could say a word, he was speeding along toward the -cliff, still keeping in the shadow of the shrubbery, so that the -natives could not see him. - -Now he and his companion eventually arrived at the base of the cliff. - -The natives in pursuit of the guide had, of course got there before -them, and were now seen speeding up the steep ascent in hot pursuit of -the strange man. - -"Come," said Harry; "come!" - -As he spoke, he sped straight up the cliff. - -"Well," muttered Turk, as he panted for breath, "this is hot work for -sich old timbers as I be. The lad won't give me a chance to breathe. -I may as well make up my mind to go to etarnity, the road to which -is where we are now goin'; so I'll jist make one chaw of this plug," -pulling from his pocket a great piece of tobacco, the whole of which -he at once thrust into his right cheek. - -On he went, until suddenly he uttered a loud cry, as Harry disappeared -from his sight. - -Believing that the young man had fallen into some one of the deep -chasms with which the cliff abounded, he hurried on, and was somewhat -relieved to perceive that the object of his fears had merely fallen -into a small rocky pit, with the exception of a few slight bruises, -hurting himself but little. - -Springing into the pit, the old tar assisted his prostrate friend to -his feet. - -At the same moment, clapping his hand to his brow, and uttering a wild -cry, the young man pointed far above him. - -Gazing in the indicated direction, Turk uttered a sort of despairing -grunt, and sat down on a flat, protruding shelf of rock, as if -completely overcome at the spectacle which now met his gaze. - -This spectacle, which has already been described, was none other -than that of the young girl and Captain Brand, far above the -two adventurers, distinctly revealed in the lurid gleam of the -fire-spouting crater, being swung back and forth for a fling into the -red-flaming jaw of the horrible chasm! - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE FIRE-CHASM. - - -The fearful situation in which she now found herself was enough to -appal a stouter hear than that of Mary Manton. - -Poor girl! after all the hardships she had undergone, to find herself -about to meet such a frightful doom, was, indeed, a trying ordeal for -her delicate nerves. - -Shriek after shriek passing her lips, mingled with the hoarsest cries -of Captain Brand, and the triumphant screams of the savages, who, -their forms and faces lighted by the volcanic fire, might well have -been compared to the demons of the infernal regions! - -Twenty times at least, as if to torture them by the fearful suspense, -the natives swung their victims before they made the final one to -throw them into the yawning chasm! - -Meanwhile, Turk and his friend had started afresh, and were fast -scaling the sides of the cliff. - -The mountain was now fairly reeling with the inner convulsions. The -lava had swollen on one side to a broad stream, rushing, hissing and -streaming down the side of the steep cliff. - -In fact the two men as they mounted, were constantly obliged to dodge -to one side, to escape contact with some of the diverging rivulets. - -On they went, now tottering on the verge of some deep gorge, and now -scaling a narrow passage between enormous rocks, which reeled as if -about to fall upon and crush them. - -Meanwhile the air was full of strange noises. - -Hissing, roaring and booming, the report of bursting deluges of fire -came out from the bosom of the mountain. - -The fire spread fast--the sky itself seemed aflame with the warning of -impending destruction. - -"This is sartinly the most excitin' moment in my life," said Turk, who -now gasped at every step. "I'm afraid that even when we git up to the -summit where that poor gal is, there won't be any strength left in my -bones to help the poor creature!" - -"Come on!" answered Harry, in ringing tones. "On! on!" - -And on they went, scaling the burning mountain with almost incredible -speed. - -At one time the view of the forms upon the summit was hidden by an -intruding rock. - -"Do you see her, now?" Harry anxiously inquired. - -"No!" answered Turk, as he vainly endeavored to catch a glimpse of the -fire-lighted forms. - -"Alas! It was a bad day for poor Mary, when she set out in search of -her lost father," exclaimed Harry; "poor girl! brave girl!" - -"Ay, and a wild-goose chase, it has proved so far, and will prove a -wild-gooser before its over." - -Continuing on, the two men finally came to a point, where two paths, -diverging between high rocks, met their gaze. - -They were undecided which of these to take. - -"My God! the girl will meet her fate, before we can get to her!" -exclaimed Harry, as he dashed into the path on the right. "Come on, -Turk! This path ascends and must be the right one, as the other seems -to incline!" - -Turk shook his head. - -"P'raps you're right, and p'raps not!" he said. "If it hadn't been for -them lava-streams, we might have kept straight ahead, and been at the -end of our cruise in more senses than one, before the present moment." - -The two kept on, but the further they went, the more puzzled they -became, as the path they pursued soon led them among a perfect -labyrinth of rocks, some of them overarched so that, with the -exception of a lurid gleam of light, here and there, they were left in -total darkness. - -The labyrinth became more difficult. - -Tangled bushes, vines, shrubs, and the roots of decayed trees impeded -their way every moment. - -Meanwhile the agony of the young man, searching hither and thither for -some way out of his difficulty, was terrible. The sweat came out upon -his brow, his veins seemed on fire with feverish excitement. - -He knew all the time he was thus searching that Mary's doom must soon -be sealed, if already she had not been hurled into the whirlpool of -fire! - -Turk also vainly exerted himself; but the more the two endeavored -to find a way out of the labyrinth, the more hopelessly they became -entangled. - -At length they found themselves at the mouth of a cavern. The floor -of this cave seemed to extend downward, while far ahead of them, they -beheld the fiery gleam of the volcano. - -"This is our way," shouted Turk. "Come, lad, come!" - -He dove into the cavern, followed by his friend, both believing that -when they should arrive at the terminus of this sloping tunnel, they -would find a way to the top of the cliff! - -Encouraged by this hope, Harry sped on with a swiftness, which soon -carried him far beyond his friend. - -In a few minutes he had gained the further end of the cavern, when -Turk heard his wild despairing cry ringing out like that of a wounded -wolf. - -In a moment he was by the young man, who pointed upward. - -When Turk also perceived that they had made their way to this point, -only to be aggravated by another sight of the tatooed forms of the -savages and their intended victims, so far above them that they could -not hope to reach the spot. - -In fact they now found themselves in one of those deep gorges, whose -sides were too steep to be ascended, but which commanded a view of the -raging fire. - -Yes, there was the girl and Brand, still being swung hither and -thither that their torments might yet be prolonged. - -The sight almost drove Harry mad. He clenched his fists, and -compressed his lips, as if, by the exertion of a strong will alone, he -hoped to prevent the accomplishment of the fearful deed. - -As to Turk, he danced about in his excitement performing a sort of -fantastic hornpipe, while all the time the tears streamed down his -wrinkled cheeks. - -"Ay, ay," he moaned, "it is too bad. If I could lay down my life a -thousand times for that poor gal, God knows I would willingly do it." - -The scream of the imperiled one now rang down the cliff penetrating -the hearts of the two men like a knife. - -"Good God!" cried Harry; "oh, Turk! Turk! let us see if we cannot yet -get to her, before the demons do their foul work." - -The increased thunder of the volcano seemed to mock his voice. The air -and sky reddened by the lurid gleam, seemed filled with a crimson mist -rolling in clouds round the swaying forms, and shrouding them from -sight. - -As Harry spoke, Turk pressed his forehead against the rocky side of -the gorge, while he pointed upward at the girl, whose hair, catching -the red gleam, seemed another shower of fire. - -"No use, Harry. See, they are giving the last swing! I know by the -voice of that native who has jist howled out the order." - -In fact so shrill and piercing and savage was the islander's cry that -its import could not well be mistaken. - -Like the croaking shriek of a ravenous sea-bird, it came grating down -the sides of the rock. - -"My God! there she goes!" screamed Harry; "Mary! Mary!" - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -UNEXPECTED. - - -With that cry from Harry Glenville was mingled the despairing scream -of the young girl. - -The two savages holding her, had swung her forward with great impetus -to fling her into the red gulf, when a wild form suddenly came -bounding forward from the summit of an overhanging rock, snatched the -girl from their arms and made off with her with deer-like speed. - -To explain this, it must be remembered that the gaze of all the -savages present, had been concentrated upon the two intended victims, -so that they had known nothing of the approach of the intruder, who, -it need scarcely be told, was the singular island guide. - -This person, probably from his greater familiarity with the mountain -paths, had distanced his pursuers who, like Harry Glenville and Turk, -soon became puzzled as to their course, and thus lost track of the -fugitive. - -Coming upon the fearful scene near the fire chasm, the strong man had -found it easy to leap from his position, snatch the girl from the -already relaxed grasp of her tormentors, and make considerable headway -before the natives could recover sufficiently from their surprise to -start in pursuit. - -So astonished were all that the two who held Captain Brand, allowed -the latter to disengage himself from their grasp and make off at a -speed accelerated to almost incredible swiftness by his fears. - -The course taken by Brand led him at right angles with that followed -by the stranger, so that the pursuers were obliged to separate. - -This separation gave the fugitives an advantage, especially the -strange guide, who seemed familiar with every nook and corner of the -mountain. - -On he went, seeming to carry his burden with a strength probably -caused by some powerful excitement, although his gray hair, streaming -back from under the broad leaf, partially concealing his face, -proclaimed his advanced years. - -Finally, however, he began to stagger beneath his burden, which, it -was evident, was too much for him. - -Seemingly bent, however, upon gaining some particular point, he kept -on until he came to a small, dark hollow, between a number of jagged -rocks, where he crawled therein. - -"Hist!" he muttered, as the young girl opened her mouth, apparently on -the point of speaking. "Not a word! I have my money! money! money!" he -added, in the same penetrating whisper, as he thrust his hand in his -pocket and felt the jingling bag. - -The man had been mistaken about Mary's wishing to speak. - -The poor girl's eyes were closed, her cheek as white as marble. She -had fainted at the moment when the natives were at the point of -flinging her to her destruction. - -Seemingly unaware of this circumstance, her preserver, crouching down -without again looking at her, listened intently, probably for the -steps of his pursuers. - -These steps, drawing nearer, finally went past. - -The fugitive had served the natives a trick. Unseen by them, owing to -an intruding point of rock, when he crawled into the small cave, they -had passed him, believing he had gone on, far ahead. - -He waited full a quarter of an hour, then, emerging, continued on. - -At a place where two narrow paths diverged, he came upon Brand, -crouching in the angle of a rock. - -Here the light was indistinct. - -"Who are you who have saved this girl?" inquired the captain, coming -forward. - -"Don't question me," answered the other, "but help me with this girl." - -Brand started as suddenly. Then, recovering his self-possession, -although trembling in every limb, he complied with the request. - -"My money--my money--ha! ha! I _have that_ safe!" muttered the -stranger, as they proceeded. - -"Your _what_?" gasped Brand, fairly turning as white as the senseless -girl. - -"My money," was the answer--"all safe!" - -On they went, following a path which led them by the tunnel through -which Harry and Turk had previously passed, from which they were -emerging at this very moment. - -Brand started back. - -"You safe?" he exclaimed, staring at Harry, as if at a ghost. - -"Ay," answered the young man. - -Then he sprang to the side of the unconscious girl, peering down upon -her still face. - -"Not dead! not dead!" he cried, wildly. - -Even as he spoke, the girl opened her eyes. - -In the faint light they gleamed like stars, as they fell upon her -lover's face. - -"Harry!" she exclaimed. - -In an instant she was on her feet, supported by her friends until she -had fully regained her balance. - -Then explanations followed. - -"And who, my friend, are you who have thus benefitted us?" inquired -Harry, now turning to grasp the hand of the stranger. - -The latter, however, was nowhere to be seen. - -"That chap I should sartinly take for the devil, do you see, if it -'twan't that I couldn't neither see his caudal cumpendage, nor account -for his savin' the gal, which no devil, I take it, would have done." - -Meanwhile, words may not express the joy of the lovers at their -reunion. Mary had firmly believed that Harry was dashed to pieces when -Brand let go of the rope. - -Alluding to this, Turk now said: - -"How came you to do sich a trick, captain?" - -The latter turned aside his head, trembling like an aspen as he -recalled to mind the apparition he had seen among the trees. - -"Accidents will happen," he said, in a husky voice. - -"Well," continued Turk, "now that we have so far got clear of them -infarnal blackskins, I trust and hope that we may contrive to get away -from the island without seein' 'em, or, at any rate, before we are -swallowed up in fire!" - -At that moment, far ahead of them, they beheld the stranger, his face -still screened by the broad leaf, beckoning to them. - -So he had not deserted them, after all. - -"We'd better follow him," said Turk, "as he seems to know every part -of this island. To my thinkin', he'll get us out of this scrape, if -it's possible to get out!" - -The advice was followed. - -The strange guide led the party along the narrow path with great -celerity, until they finally arrived at the foot of the cliff. - -By this time the whole island presented an appearance at once, wild -and fearful. - -The showers of fire from the mountain were increased ten-fold; the -island rocked like a cradle. Every part of it seemed lighted with a -ghastly radiance. A red mist hovered over it rolling along, volume -upon volume. - -Near the beach the water was seen breaking into thousands of bubbles, -while further beyond it was dashed to a foam. - -Meanwhile the noises of shock following shock were become terrific. - -A whole pack of artillery seemed to burst and boom, volley upon -volley, beneath the quaking soil! - -Suddenly there was a shock as of many thunderbolts, from the direction -of the mountain, which was now seen split, apparently from top to -bottom, into a great chasm, from which in great quantities burst forth -streams of lava and long forked tongues of lurid flame. - -The island was now as light as day. Far and near objects could be -plainly distinguished, while overhead showers of flying sparks almost -obscured the sky! - -In the red glare, the forms of savages were now seen making all haste -to descend the tottering cliff! - -Appalled by the impending fate of the island, all the natives who had -been left below, were seen at a distance beckoning to their companions -to make haste. - -The white people now were nearer the canoe than the savages themselves. - -"Come!" screamed the guide, as he made towards the light vessel. -"Come!" - -He beckoned, as he spoke, to the young girl and the seamen, all of -whom made haste to follow him. - -The savages below, now, for the first time, caught sight of the white -party, and made for them with great swiftness, yelling and brandishing -their spears. - -"There's sartinly no time to lose," exclaimed Turk, as he assisted his -friend to help Mary along; "if them blackskins get at us now, they'll -make sure work of it by pinning us to the ground." - -The party hurried on. - -They reached the canoe, while the islanders were yet forty yards -distant, when, springing in, all the men seized paddles and went to -work. - -Spear after spear was hurled at them before they had gone more than a -few fathoms from the beach. - -One of these missiles severed a lock from Mary's head, another grazed -the shoulder of her lover. - -"Quick!" shrieked Turk, "if we don't get away from here in a minute, -we'll all be swallered in fire and water!" - -This, in fact, seemed evident. The bubbles increased on the surface. -The surges rolled wildly, swaying hither and thither--the booming -thunder underground was become deafening. - -Glancing towards the islanders, these unfortunates were seen running -towards the raft, and then flocking up on it with all possible -dispatch, while filling the air with dismal, howling cries. - -"God help the poor wretches!" cried Mary. - -"Paddle ahead, paddle for life!" screamed Turk, as the cliff, with a -din as if the very earth were being rent in twain, tumbled to pieces, -rock upon rock, apparently drowned in a sea of fire, amid which the -forms of the doomed natives on the cliff were also seen to disappear. -Sky air and sea looked as if aflame. - -The whole universe seemed to rock and tremble. - -The crimson waves rose high around the frail canoe; while the raft -nearer to the beach, was at once engulphed with its living freight. - -"God help us!" cried Mary. - -"We are lost!" shouted Brand, shutting out the fearful aspect of sea -and heaven, by putting a hand to his eyes. - -"Hush!" said Harry, sternly, "I trust we may escape." - -All round the island the waves were now seen trembling in great -colliding, clashing walls of hissing boiling water. - -From these walls streams of fire, like lightning flashes, shot -continually upward. - -The air was still full of flying sparks, and of lava stones which -dropped in showers into the water. - -For full half an hour the commotion continued, when, suddenly, the -doomed island disappeared forever, while the agitated waves continued -to bubble and boil long afterwards, over the spot where it had existed. - -Gradually the fearful red lustre of sky and sea died away. A gloom, -appalling from its strange suddenness, fell upon the sea. - -The canoe with its occupants floated in darkness upon the agitated -waters. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -CONCLUSION. - - -The men in the canoe continued paddling ahead. There was no sleep for -any of the occupants during that night. - -When daylight stole upon the sea they looked toward the spot, far -astern, where the island had been but where there was nothing now to -mark the spot except a mass of agitated waters, gradually subsiding. - -Straight and tall, at the stern of the canoe, sat the stranger guide, -he whose features had previously been hidden and the breadfruit leaf, -now thrust aside. - -Brand, who had been gazing toward the place he occupied, ever since -the day began to break, now was visibly agitated. He trembled all -over, while his face was perfectly ghastly. - -As the light increased, and the stranger's features became yet more -distinct, the captain uttered a wild cry, and while his eyes rolled -wildly in his head, sat as if transfixed to his thwart still gazing -upon the man before him. - -A moment he remained thus, then fell senseless upon his face. - -Mary, who had hitherto been gazing away toward the west, turned at the -cry Brand uttered, and seemed for a moment, like one spellbound as her -gaze fell upon the stranger's face. - -Then her eyes lighted up her whole countenance a gleam with joy. - -"My father!" she exclaimed, "father! father! Oh! thank God, I have -found him at last!" - -Stretching forth her arms, she moved towards the guide, who, however, -still sat looking at her half wonderingly and half pityingly, without -seeming to recognize her. - -Mary, however, knew him well. She could not mistake those familiar -features, and the fact of his not seeming to recognize her, seemed to -inspire her with the deepest grief. - -"Oh, papa! papa! Look! behold! Here is your daughter! I am Mary, papa! -Don't you know me?" - -An expression of partial intelligence came to the man's eyes, then -passed like a gleam of sunlight obliterated by the shadow of a cloud. - -"Ay, ay, now!" exclaimed Tom Turk as he gazed at the man, "this is too -bad! I know ye well enough as the passenger once aboard the _Maxwell_, -and who was supposed to be lost; the father of this lass. It's mighty -strange you don't know your own child." - -"Mr. Manton," exclaimed Harry, stepping forward, and grasping the hand -of him he addressed, "this is a great, great pleasure! Thank God we -have found you at last, alive and well! Do not, I beg of you, afflict -your daughter longer by playing off this joke upon her!" - -"Joke! joke!" said Mr. Manton, running a hand through his gray hair -and looking up in a bewildered manner, "I don't understand you! Ha! -ha! it's all safe, my money!" he added, "all safe! safe!" - -Harry looked sorrowfully at the speaker. - -Glances of intelligence were exchanged between him and Turk. - -Even Mary could no longer doubt the fearful truth, which had gradually -been forcing itself upon her mind. - -Her father was insane! - -She flung herself at his feet--she grasped both his hands, and kissed -them again and again--then burst into tears, sobbing as if her heart -would break, at the vacant stare, which was the only response to her -manifestations. - -Harry endeavored to soothe her. - -"I am confident," said he, "that your father is not a confirmed -lunatic. He may be restored to his reason, if care be taken. I have -seen worse cases than this cured." - -So excited were Harry and his friends over the discovery they had -made, that, although the singular emotion of Brand had not escaped -their attention, yet they had not noticed his being unconscious. - -Now, however, Turk perceived it. - -"A strange affair, this," said he; "had old Nick himself come to claim -the captain, he couldn't have acted queerer than he has at the sight -of Mr. Manton!" - -In a few minutes, the captain recovered, staring wildly around him, -until his eye was caught by the spectacle of the old man astern, when -he started back with an affrighted cry. - -"It is real flesh and blood, then," he exclaimed. - -"Why, of course, Cap," answered Turk, "you don't suppose, I hope, -that we'd take a ghost passenger!" - -"Real flesh and blood," continued Brand, an expression of relief -passing over his face, as he noticed the vacant stare of Mr. Manton, -showing that the latter did not recognize him. "I am glad of it--ay, -very glad. So he was not lost overboard, after all!" - -"It seems not!" said Turk; "but I shouldn't have thought the discovery -would have set you off into a faintin' fit?" - -"Well, you see," said Brand, with a forced laugh, "the fact is I am a -little superstitious--always was!" - -This explanation hardly seemed to satisfy the old sailor, who shook -his head without saying a word. - -Meanwhile, the canoe, still urged along by Turk's paddle, was gliding -through the blue waters, now just beginning to catch the tinge of the -coming sunlight. - -Suddenly the old sailor, who had long been gazing far away towards the -west, sprung to his feet, screaming out! "Sail O!" with all his might. - -"It's the same craft I saw t'other night from the cliff!" said he; "I -didn't say anything about it, as I wasn't sure it was a sail in the -imperfect light, and didn't want to awake false hopes." - -Harry Glenville now seizing his paddle, assisted Turk. - -Meanwhile Brand, with an old handkerchief, continued to raise a -signal, which it was soon evident, was seen by the vessel. - -Previously standing away towards the southward, she now was seen to -come 'round, bowling along, close hauled towards the canoe. - -This at last was reached, and the occupants picked up, to learn they -were aboard the ship _Empire_, of New York, homeward bound. - -Every kind attention was bestowed upon the castaways, who, on their -arrival home, a few months after, published a letter of thanks to the -good skipper. - -Mary took her father to a little cottage she occupied with an aunt. - -A celebrated physician, accustomed to lunatic cases was called. - -He pronounced Mr. Manton's case, a curable one, and, in the course of -a year proved it so, by restoring the old man fully to his reason. - -Words may not express the joy of Mary, who had awaited this happy -moment to become the wife of Harry Glenville. - -The old man was present at the wedding, in which he took the interest -natural to the father of the bride. - -On the very night of the ceremony, the old man, who had not previously -touched upon that 'dark affair' aboard the _Maxwell_, was able to -reveal events, so as to go into a full explanation. - -He stated that, after being knocked overboard by Brand, he threw out -his arms, clutching the plank which had fallen with him, and which, -thanks to his being a good swimmer and to a favorable current, enabled -him to drift down upon the volcanic island. - -The hardship and excitement undergone, however, that night, so worked -upon his brain, that he was affected with a fever which lasted a -couple of days. - -After that all was a blank to Mr. Manton. He could not remember what -took place from that time to the present. - -Although insane, however, the man's instinct, or some other cause, had -prompted him to stow his money away in the hollow tree. - -"Ay, ay," said Harry, "it was evidently to obtain your money that that -wretch Brand threw you overboard!" - -"Of course," answered Manton. "But the rascal was nicely foiled, for, -as it happened, it was always my custom, when I stepped on deck to put -my money in the canvas bag, and thrust it into my pocket! - -"This carefulness of mine may be understood, when I inform you that I -intended every cent of that money for my darling child, to whom I now -present it with great joy at being able to place her above want during -her lifetime!" - -We have little to add. - -After Manton's explanation, Brand was sought for, but could not be -found, as he had cleared off to parts unknown. - -He was never again heard of, if we except a rumor, that he had been -lost at sea! - -Tom Turk was favorably recommended to the ship owners by Harry -Glenville, who was thus enabled to procure him a vessel. - -The old fellow followed the sea until he was seventy years of age, -when he settled down in an old cottage on the outskirts of New York, -within a mile of the residence of Harry Glenville and his beautiful -bride. - -Mr. Manton still lives; in fact his native air has seemed to agree -with him. He is nearly as straight as ever, while, in spite of his -gray hairs, his cheek glows with the ruddy hue of health! - -Often on still summer nights, with his grandchildren at his knee, he -relates the story of the wicked Brand, who, for his many crimes, and -especially for his dark attempt to take a human life, was long spoken -of by sea men as the Demon Cruiser. - - -THE END. - - - * * * * * - - -BEADLE'S FRONTIER SERIES - - -1. The Shawnee's Foe. - -2. The Young Mountaineer. - -3. Wild Jim. - -4. Hawk-Eye, the Hunter. - -5. The Boy Guide. - -6. War Tiger of the Modocs. - -7. The Red Modocs. - -8. Iron Hand. - -9. Shadow Bill, the Scout. - -10. Wapawkaneta, or the Rangers of the Oneida. - -11. Davy Crockett's Boy Hunter. - -12. The Forest Avenger. - -13. Old Jack's Frontier Cabin. - -14. On the Deep. - -15. Sharp Snout. - -16. The Mountain Demon. - -17. Wild Tom of Wyoming. - -18. The Brave Boy Hunters of Kentucky. - -19. The Fearless Ranger. - -20. The Haunted Trapper. - -21. Madman of the Colorado. - -22. The Panther Demon. - -23. Slashaway, the Fearless. - -24. Pine Tree Jack. - -25. Indian Jim. - -26. Navajo Nick. - -27. The Tuscarora's Vow. - -28. Deadwood Dick, Jr. - -29. A New York Boy Among the Indians. - -30. Deadwood Dick's Big Deal. - -31. Hank, the Guide. - -32. Deadwood Dick's Dozen. - -33. Squatty Dick. - -34. The Hunter's Secret. - -35. The Woman Trapper. - -36. The Chief of the Miami. - -37. Gunpowder Jim. - -38. Mad Anthony's Captain. - -39. The Ranger Boy's Career. - -40. Old Nick of the Swamp. - -41. The Shadow Scout. - -42. Lantern-Jawed Bob. - -43. The Masked Hunter. - -44. Brimstone Jake. - -45. The Irish Hunter. - -46. Dave Bunker. - -47. The Shawnee Witch. - -48. Big Brave. - -49. Spider-Legs. - -50. Harry Hardskull. - -51. Madman of the Oconto. - -52. Slim Jim. - -53. Tiger-Eye. - -54. The Red Star of the Seminoles. - -55. Trapper Joe. - -56. The Indian Queen's Revenge. - -57. Eagle-Eyed Zeke. - -58. Scar-Cheek, the Wild Half-Breed. - -59. Red Men of the Woods. - -60. Tuscaloosa Sam. - -61. The Bully of the Woods. - -62. The Trapper's Bride. - -63. Red Rattlesnake, The Pawnee. - -64. The Scout of Tippecanoe. - -65. Old Kit, The Scout. - -66. The Boy Scouts. - -67. Hiding Tom. - -68. Roving Dick, Hunter. - -69. Hickory Jack. - -70. Mad Mike. - -71. Snake-Eye. - -72. Big-Hearted Joe. - -73. The Blazing Arrow. - -74. The Hunter Scouts. - -75. The Scout of Long Island. - -76. Turkey-Foot. - -77. The Death Rangers. - -78. Bullet Head. - -79. The Indian Spirit. - -80. The Twin Trappers. - -81. Lightfoot the Scout. - -82. Grim Dick. - -83. The Wooden-Legged Spy. - -84. The Silent Trapper. - -85. Ugly Ike. - -86. Fire Cloud. - -87. Hank Jasper. - -88. The Scout of the Sciota. - -89. Black Samson. - -90. Billy Bowlegs. - -91. The Bloody Footprint. - -92. Marksman the Hunter. - -93. The Demon Cruiser. - -94. Hunters and Redskins. - -95. Panther Jack. - -96. Old Zeke. - -97. The Panther Paleface. - -98. The Scout of the St. Lawrence. - -99. Bloody Brook. - -100. Long Bob of Kentucky. - -THE ARTHUR WESTBROOK CO. Cleveland. U. S. A. - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber's Notes - - -The Table of Contents has been added by the transcriber and it is -placed in the public domain. Minor punctuation errors have been -silently corrected. - -Page 12: Changed "birth" to "berth." - (Orig: He went back to his birth, not to sleep,) - -Page 19: Changed "Sidney," to "Sydney." - (Orig: visit some of them before going into Sidney.") - -Page 21: Changed "steped" to "stepped." - (Orig: Then he steped to the captain's side,) - -Page 23: Retained "claining," but possibly meant "clinging." - (Orig: Vainly Brand, claining to a rope near the mizzenmast,) - -Page 23: Changed "sevaral" to "several." - (Orig: a violence which threw sevaral men off the yard) - -Page 25: Retained "dextrious", but probably meant "dexterous." - (Orig: the old fellow by a dextrious movement,) - -Page 30: Changed "swarm" to "swam." - (Orig: He swarm to a spar near him, and, with the ropes) - -Page 38: Changed "accomodation" to "accommodation." - (Orig: one for the accomodation of the men,) - -Page 40: Changed "apparrently" to "apparently." - (Orig: were audible, apparrently approaching the hut!) - -Page 42: Retained "from," but probably meant "for." - (Orig: Harry now sprang from the raft.) - -Page 47: Changed "ripling" to "rippling." - (Orig: Away it went, ripling the water,) - -Page 53: Changed "rock," to "rocks." - (Orig: firmly wedged in between two rock,) - -Page 55: Changed "strangly" to "strangely." - (Orig: staring eyes, were fixed strangly upon the captain.) - -Page 59: Changed "decending" to "descending." - (Orig: apparently decending towards him with great rapidity.) - -Page 59: Changed "aditional" to "additional." - (Orig: with the fall of aditional lava occurred,) - -Page 62: Changed "in" to "is." - (Orig: "This in dang'rous traveling," remarked Turk,) - -Page 63: Removed duplicate "it." - (Orig: the drowned passenger as it it was hastily withdrawn!) - -Page 68: Changed "rembered" to "remembered." - (Orig: bewildered, she soon rembered all.) - -Page 68: Changed "headed" to "heeded." - (Orig: The natives headed not her sufferings.) - -Page 69: Changed "superstious" to "superstitious." - (Orig: The superstious natives are prone to believe weird stories,) - -Page 69: Changed "eat" to "ate." - (Orig: Brand eat heartily, but poor Mary, almost maddened) - -Page 70: Changed "evntually" to "eventually." - (Orig: all possible dispatch, evntually pausing upon a lofty spire,) - -Page 70: Changed "hight" to "height." - (Orig: This spur, rising to a hight of about forty feet) - -Page 73: Changed "peal" to "peel." - (Orig: strips of which were already beginning to peal off.) - -Page 73: "salle" for "sally," is best guess for unclear word, -meaning to rush out, assault. - (Orig: do anything in a hurry, which do you see, will salle all.") - -Page 78: Changed "conditon" to "condition." - (Orig: "Name that ere conditon of yours then, quick!") - -Page 85: Retained "hear" typo, but possibly "heart" or "head." - (Orig: was enough to appal a stouter hear than that of Mary) - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Demon Cruiser, by R. 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