Part 60 (2/2)

”Cheer up, Uncle Terence,” exclaimed Desmond; ”the cliffs may tumble down, but still, as you reround to stand upon”

”I don't knohat I should have done without you,” answered Adair

”Frankly, I believe I should have broken down altogether: For my poor Lucy's sake and yours I am as anxious to escape, if I can do so with honour, as any er I etting the rafts built,” said Desmond

”I will direct the first lieutenant to set the people about the work at once, just as a matter of precaution, so as not to alarm them,” answered Adair

There were feever, who did not feel as anxious as the captain to get the rafts completed, and all hands set to work to collect every particle of ti the coast, and to haul it to the bay

The carpenter, upon calculation, found that he could for and twenty wide These would carry all the creere not able to find room in the boats, provided the sea was tolerably smooth A couple of rafts had been co away at the others, when again that ominous sound which before had alarmed them was heard, and the whole island seeh the movement ceased, it made them work aith almost frantic haste

By means of hand-spikes and rollers, the rafts, as they were finished, were launched, when the boatswain and histhem in the best fashi+on they could, while the sail- out the canvas, so, taken for the roofs of the huts

Although so much of the cliff had fallen down as to half fill the harbour, the point on which the flag-staff stood remained intact

Charley Roy was stationed there with a party of men, who kept a look-out around the horizon froht by another party under the third lieutenant, as directed to burn blue-lights and let off rockets at intervals, in case any shi+p should be passing

Night brought no cessation to the toils of the crew Torches were formed, and fresh hands laboured away at the rafts Several tiround below them shook more or less violently

”Stop a bit, an' we'll be afther gittin' off you,” cried Pat Casey, as always ready with a joke to cheer up his coer, an' you an' me will part company, whin ye can trimble as much as ye like”

Whether or not the volcano would accede to his request see the commotions increased, crash succeeded crash, and they could perceive that other portions of the cliff had given hile there was some fear that the rafts would be swa et out of the harbour Strange to say, in spite of the fearful danger in which they were placed, the h they worked away in a manner which showed that they were fully conscious of the necessity of speed, the officers labouring with them as hard as any one At the sound of the boatswain's call they scampered off to breakfast, which they bolted in a few minutes, and soon came back to their work

The weather now became finer than it had been since they had landed on the island many months before The sky was clear and the air pure, and there was not an invalid a them

The sixth raft had just been co it down to the water, when a ru sound far louder than any thunder was heard The tall cliffs appeared as if about to fall down and fill up the whole of the harbour, the mouth evidently of an ancient crater The rocks were seen to lift and heave; Adair stood on the shore, superintending the launching of the raft, apparently as cool and unet the boats into the water,” he exclaimed ”Let their proper crews attend to the down the provisions and water”

It should have been said that, under the direction of the pay-master and his assistants, all the casks had been filled ater, and all the provisions done up in packages, which could be easily transported

Even at that moment perfect discipline prevailed; the men hurried backwards and forwards, it is true, as fast as their legs could carry the exactly what they had to do The midshi+pmen were ordered into the boats with their respective crews to stow the packages, and to keep the rafts off the beach These were next loaded, and the boats being filled, the men were ordered to take their places on the rafts

Captain Adair and Lord Saint Maur stood alone on the shore, when the sound of a gun was heard

”I forgot Roy and the o for him,” cried Desmond, and before he could be stopped, he darted off

Adair now ordered the boats to take the rafts in tow, and to proceed over the bar, as it would be i it One boat--his own gig--with four hands in her, only remained, so that she was able to carry, in addition, Roy and his party

Again the sound of the gun was heard, followed by a third report All this time the cliffs above the further end of the harbour appeared cruround where thein visible undulations Adair felt that at any ht be convulsed in such a way as to destroy all re on it He anxiously looked out for the return of Saint Maur and Roy The movements increased in violence He saw thetheir eyes towards the cliff, as if they were eager to be away, fearing lest they themselves would be involved in the expected destruction of the island He drew his breath th he saw Saint Maur appear on the top of the path leading from the hill, followed by Roy and hisspeed They had not a round, some of a width across which it seemed scarcely possible they could leap, while the rocks on either side were tu to crush the party as they ig to co her stem He had no need to hurry Saint Maur and the rest One poor felloas struck, but his colance that he was killed Another narrowly escaped, and a huge block caap

With frantic haste they dashed along, and al in!” cried Adair; ”I shall be the last to leave the shore!”