eatly relieved when I saw them all landed.

But even now our danger was fearful. On came the fire, on came the
stream of lava. We had still a long way to go, it seemed. The rest of
the party, not knowing what had occurred, had already got to some
distance. We rushed after them at increased speed. Poor Grace could
scarcely support herself, but I helped her along. At length we overtook
our friends. "On, on!" cried Mr Sedgwick, every now and then turning
back and pointing towards the beach, much as an officer might encourage
a forlorn hope, only we were flying from danger instead of running into
it. The fire seemed scarcely a hundred yards from us, and already we
felt the heat of the advancing conflagration. At length the bay opened
out before us, but the fire was by this time close on one hand, and the
flames were curling up some tall palms which we the instant before had
passed. Crash followed crash as the trees sank before the devouring
element. Already it had gained the edge of the path and ignited the
wood on the opposite side. We had to pass under an arch of fire. I
entreated Oliver to keep close behind us. He and Macco sprang forward.
At that moment there came a crash, and a tall tree fell directly behind
them, cutting off the mate and boatswain. It was no time to stop,
however. I felt this for my companion's sake, and I know not, even if I
had been alone, that I should have ventured to turn back to help them.

I feared that our two friends had been lost. Without them, how could we
expect safely to navigate our frail raft? We had got some way, almost
clear of the wood, when I heard shouts, and turning my head, greatly to
my relief I saw both Mr Thudicumb and Tarbox leaping over the burning
trunk, their clothes already on fire. They were striking out the
flames, however, and rushing on. "On! on!" I heard Tarbox shouting
out, and his voice seemed as strong and cheery as ever. In a few
seconds they overtook us, and we altogether rushed frantically out of
the burning forest. A minute later none of us could have passed. We
hurried down to the beach. "On board the raft! on board the raft!"
shouted my uncle, "for the lava may rush down from the mountain even
here."

The raft was moored securely in the harbour, and, since I had seen it,
had been greatly enlarged and improved. Potto Jumbo and Roger Trew
rushed into the water, and cutting--the cable, towed it ashore. The
provisions meantime were c