"What a brute!" "Horrible!" exclaimed Mark, shivering, for the idea of being overboard in such a black bottomless hole sent a chill through him.

But they were soon across, to find they could drag the boat over fifty yards of black sand and launch her again in blue water, where all around was bright and attractive; for though no large trees were growing near the shore, the land was covered with a glorious vegetation, and looked attractive right away to the slopes of the volcano, as soon as the crater bay, with its lowering black basalt, was left a quarter of a mile behind.
"Now," said the captain, "how are we steering ?" "Nearly due south," said the mate, glancing at a pocket-compass.
"Then you are right, Gregory, and this is the nearest way home." "If it is an island, father," said Mark, smiling.
"And that it must be, Mark, my lad, and a very small one, as we shall see.".