Chapter 93
Darkness did not overtake them that night, for long before it was sundown they were conscious of a peculiar glow above them, and the final part of their descent was illuminated by an intense light, which as night fell was reflected from the clouds which had gathered, and helped them to reach the sh.o.r.e not above half-a-mile from where the yacht lay with her lights burning.
A shot or two brought a boat to where they were waiting, and weary though they all were, they sat for hours gazing up at a great glowing stream of fire, which was plainly enough the beginning of one of the lava-streams which flowed down the mountain's sides.
"Notice to quit, I think, sir," said the captain quietly.
"Yes," said Sir John, "it would be foolhardy to stay here longer now."
"Then by your leave, sir, I'll take the yacht outside at once, for one never knows what may happen when a volcano begins to work. There! look at that! We'll get out while we can."
A terrific explosion reached their ears as he spoke, and without a moment's delay orders were given for steam to be got up, and before morning the yacht glided out through the reef, and past a flotilla of canoes which looked as if on their way to the island, but were lying-to as if startled from landing by
"Quite time our adventures ceased, Jack," said Sir John, "when they were becoming as dangerous as this. It seems that we have just had another escape."
"Yes, father," said Jack quietly. "I am sorry to leave the place; but, as you say, it was quite time to go."
Peaceful sea voyages in fine weather, from one of the well-known ports to the other for coal and other supplies, have been described too often for Jack Meadows' quiet journey to China, from thence to j.a.pan, Australia, New Zealand, and then round the Horn to Rio, Barbadoes, and then homeward, to need recapitulation here. Let it suffice that it was within six weeks of two years from starting that Sir John's yacht steamed into Dartmouth harbour once more.
Two years--from sixteen to eighteen--work strange alterations in some lads; they had done wonders here, and Sir John and the doctor exchanged glances as Jack stepped down into the boat amid the cheers of the men, after he had shaken hands all round.
"Good-bye!" he shouted. "Remember that in six months we start on another cruise."
A deafening cheer was the answer to this, and the men sprang up into the rigging, to stand waving their caps to the lad--the young man who had been almost carried on board.
That evening as the express steamed into Paddington, and Ned met his master on the platform to say that the luggage was all right, the man seized the opportunity to whisper to Jack--
"Home again, sir! I say, what will they think of you there? They won't know you!"
"Not know me, Ned? Am I so much changed?"
"Changed, sir? What, don't you know it?"
"I--I think I'm stronger, Ned, and grown a little."
"Why, sir, you're as strong and as big as me."
"My cure, Jack!" said the doctor, shaking hands with him as they reached the old home. "I say, Meadows, what am I to charge for this?--No: I'm paid already in the sight of my old friend's son."
It's rather a hard thing to do, but it is to be done. I mean for three people to shake hands at once. These three--Sir John, the doctor, and Jack Meadows--did in self-congratulation at being safe and sound at home.
It is done like this--No, you can find that out yourselves.
THE END.