fty cliffs towering up before them to the sky without
apparently a break. Still the _Dragon_ stood on, followed by the
_Eolus_, two rocks appearing, one called the Tower Rock, and another on
the opposite side, the Devil's Point, so well defined that Jack had no
fears of mistaking the entrance. The sails were furled, and the steam
got up. At length the ships entered a passage between the cliffs, about
a third of a mile in width, till they reached a basin, completely
surrounded by lofty precipices, from 800 to 1000 feet in height. The
lower portion of the rocks was bare, but their summits were clothed with
the most luxuriant vegetation--magnificent tree-ferns and cocoanut-trees
growing high up in situations in which they are seldom seen in other
latitudes.

No sooner had the ships dropped their anchors than they were surrounded
by canoes full of natives, who, though they appeared to be merry
fellows, were remarkably well behaved; all of them being also decently
clothed. Several chiefs and others came on board, some of whom spoke
English; and from them it was ascertained that the whole of the people
were Christians, having long been under missionary influence. One of
Jack's chief objects in entering the harbour was to ascertain whether
any of the natives had been carried off. A strange vessel had appeared
off the coast, and had attempted to entrap some lads fishing in a canoe,
but they had been too wary to be so caught; and when a boat put off in
chase of their canoe, they had made their way to the shore, though only
just in time to escape capture.

Jack issued a notice which he desired might be sent among all the
islands of the group, warning the people against the various devices
practised by the kidnappers. After a short time the two ships again put
to sea.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

SANTA CRUZ--ITS UNATTRACTIVE INHABITANTS--A SCHOONER CHASED BY THE
BOATS--SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS--THE SCHOONER ALLOWED TO PROCEED--A GALE--
RUN FOR SHELTER UNDER THE LEE OF AN ISLAND--A VOLCANO BURSTS FORTH--
DRIVEN AWAY--BREAKERS AHEAD--AN OPENING IN THE REEF--PASS THROUGH--LAND
ON AN ISLAND--FOOD FOUND--NATIVES APPEAR--HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS--
GREEN'S OLD SHIPMATE--PEACE ESTABLISHED--ESCAPE FROM THE ISLAND.

The _Dragon_ and _Eolus_ had been for some weeks at sea; the latter was
to touch at various islands of the New Hebrides group, after which she
was to proceed to the Loyalty Islands, to visit the Isle of Pines and
Norfolk