"Come along, Professor! Come along, Mate! The children are there somewhere, over in that strange island.

Ha! here is a bridge of rocks! Thank goodness for that! And look! here, too, are tracks!" It was Uncle Staysail who spoke, and behind him was 'Fessor Pete himself, and at least a dozen well-armed sailors.
"Listen!" cried the captain.

"What is that ?" "Wolves, I think," said the professor.

"And hark! surely that was a rifle-shot.

Pray Heaven we may be in time, Staysail!" "Hurry up, men! Hurry up!" cried the captain; and the men dashed onwards.
* * * * * Tom had revived a little, and he and Frank were fighting harder than ever to hold the gate, as bold "Horatius kept the bridge In the brave days of old".
But it was already giving way, and the beasts without seemed to know it.
Briton was on his legs ready, and all seemed to be lost, when suddenly a rattling volley of rifle fire was heard from beneath, with shouts of men.
Volley followed volley, and in less time than it takes me to tell it, the wild wolf-foxes were seeking safety in flight.
* * * * * "Tell us all your story again," said Tom to his uncle, as the children sat round the stove that same evening in the cosy cabin of the _Valhalla_.
They were all washed and clean by this time, and the girls were beautifully dressed.
[Illustration] "Ah! well, you see," said Uncle as he relit his pipe, "the professor here made a dart for the vessel when the storm came on.