The only living things upon it are the sea-gulls and other birds that circle in clouds around the smoking crater.
When she is only two cable's lengths off, the schooner slackens speed, and then stops at the entrance of a sort of natural canal formed by a couple of reefs that barely rise above the water.
I wonder whether the _Ebba_ will venture to try the dangerous feat of passing through it.

I do not think so.

She will probably lay where she is--though why she should do so I do not know--for a few hours, and then continue her voyage towards the east.
However this may be I see no preparations in progress for dropping anchor.

The anchors are suspended in their usual places, the cables have not been cleared, and no motion has been made to lower a single boat.
At this moment Count d'Artigas, Engineer Serko and Captain Spade go forward and perform some manoeuvre that is inexplicable to me.
I walk along the port side of the deck until I am near the foremast, and then I can see a small buoy that the sailors are hoisting in.
Almost immediately the water, at the same spot becomes dark and I observe a black mass rising to the surface.

Is it a big whale rising for air, and is the _Ebba_ in danger of being shattered by a blow from the monster's tail?
Now I understand! At last the mystery is solved.