alone marked the spot. A portion of
the wreck, it was evident, had been driven against her, and the retiring
sea had carried her off knocked to pieces. The remainder of the night
was spent in shifting the huts exposed to the waves to a safer spot.
Adair allowed no word of complaint to escape him, but he could not but
dread what might next happen.

Towards morning the gale abated, and the men were employed in hauling up
the fragments of spars which floated among the rocks. Some were of good
size, while others were broken into small pieces, which could be of no
use but to saw into planks. With the large ones the carpenter
contrived, in the course of a couple of days, to build a fresh mast to
supply the place of the old one. By this time the weather was again
calm, and Adair and Saint Maur and several officers accompanied the
party who were selected to set it up. They carried their telescopes,
hoping against hope that a ship might appear. But not a sail was to be
seen in the horizon, nor a wreath of smoke to indicate a passing
steamer. The flag-staff was erected, the ensign run up, and the gun
fired to do it honour.

But we must hasten on with the account of the adventures of the captain
and crew of the unfortunate _Empress_. Day after day, week after week
went by. Occasionally the earth trembled and shook, but no more jets of
vapour or gas burst forth, and the orifices of those which had first
appeared were stopped up. The surgeon's face grew longer and longer.

"Well, doctor," said Adair, when the latter was paying him a visit, "we
are not to be blown up yet, and I hope that the old rock will stand firm
enough until long after we have left it, unless we are to spend our
lives here."

"That's no reason why that fearful event should not some day occur,
captain," answered Dr McQuae. "I last night heard worse rumblings than
have yet occurred. My bunk moved up and down in a curious fashion."

"You must have been dreaming," said Adair. "I slept but lightly, and
heard no noises nor did I feel the slightest movement of the earth."

"Pardon me, Captain Adair. I was broad awake at the time, and could not
be mistaken."

Adair, on making inquiries, was surprised to find that several other
persons had heard noises and felt a movement, especially the sergeant of
marines, who averred that he was very nearly thrown out of his bunk.
His statement, however, was somewhat discredited by the warrant
officers, who expr