d some sounding-lines, and to allow one of the sailors to
accompany us; so to-morrow morning, we hope to make our little voyage of
investigation.

CHAPTER XVIII.

OCTOBER 31st to NOVEMBER 5th.--Our first proceeding on the morning of
the 31st was to make the proposed tour of the reef, which is about a
quarter of a mile long. With the aid of our sounding-lines we found that
the water was deep, right up to the very rocks, and that no shelving
shores prevented us coasting along them. There was not a shadow of doubt
as to the rock being of purely volcanic origin, upheaved by some mighty
subterranean convulsion. It is formed of blocks of basalt, arranged
in perfect order, of which the regular prisms give the whole mass the
effect of being one gigantic crystal; and the remarkable transparency
of the sea enabled us plainly to observe the curious shafts of the
prismatic columns that support the marvelous substructure.

"This is indeed a singular island," said M. Letourneur; "evidently it is
of quite a recent origin."

"Yes, father," said Andre, "and I should think it has been caused by
a phenomenon similar to those which produced the Julia Island, off
the coast of Sicily, or the group of the Santorini, in the Grecian
Archipelago. One could almost fancy that it had been created expressly
for the 'Chancellor' to stand upon."

"It is very certain," I observed, "that some upheaving has lately taken
place. This is by no means an unfrequented part of the Atlantic, so that
it is not at all likely that it could have escaped the notice of sailors
if it had been always in existence; yet it is not marked even in the
most modern charts. We must try and explore it thoroughly and give
future navigators the benefit of our observations."

"But, perhaps, it will disappear as it came," said Andre. "You are no
doubt aware, Mr. Kazallon, that these volcanic islands sometimes have
a very transitory existence. Not impossibly, by the time it gets marked
upon the maps it may no longer be here."

"Never mind, my boy," answered his father, "it is better to give warning
of a danger that does not exist than overlook one that does. I daresay
the sailors will not grumble much, if they don't find a reef where we
have marked one."

"No, I daresay not, father," said Andre "and after all this island is
very likely as firm as a continent. However, if it is to disappear, I
expect Captain Curtis would be glad to see it take its departure as soon
as po