, sheltered by a higher line of the reef, the water was perfectly
calm. Even there, as they looked in the direction from whence they had
come, they could see the burning mountain blazing away as furiously as
at first; the upper portion, which appeared above the horizon,
presenting the appearance of a vast shining cone, with a crown of fire
rising towards the sky. Far-off as it was, the light it cast had
enabled them to see the breakers much sooner than they otherwise would
have done, and had been the means thus of saving their lives.

Daylight now appeared, and a glimpse was caught of the sun through an
opening in the cloud just above the horizon. His rays fell on a hilly
country, richly wooded, with streams flowing down at the bottom of the
valleys, one of which emptied itself directly opposite the break in the
reef by which they had entered. As yet no natives had appeared, nor
were any huts seen, but it could scarcely be supposed that so fine a
region was destitute of inhabitants. Green, therefore, pointed out to
his men the importance of acting cautiously. Their hunger and thirst,
however, must be satisfied; he therefore pulled in towards the mouth of
the stream, where, at all events, they could obtain water. As they
approached, Billy's sharp eyes detected some cocoanuts growing on
several tall trees a short distance from the beach; these would afford
them food till more substantial fare could be obtained. The difficulty,
however, was to reach the trees where the fruit grew.

"I'll manage to do it," cried Billy, "in a way I have read of somewhere,
with a rope round my waist."

Some rocks near the mouth of the stream afforded sufficient shelter to
the boats, and enabled the party to land without the necessity of
beaching them. The arms had all been made ready for use, and Green
ordered one half of the men to remain in the boats under Tom's command,
while he led the other, who carried the breakers to fill with water.
Billy, in the meantime, with Archie to assist him, prepared to climb up
a cocoanut tree. He had brought a long piece of rope, which he formed
into a large grummet, or hoop, round the tree. He made several
attempts, however, before he could succeed in getting up even a few
feet. Though Archie laughed at him, he was undaunted.

"Practice makes perfect," he answered, again working his way upwards
till he got several feet higher.

His plan was to hold tight with his knees while he jerked the gr