Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/246

 THE CRATER; eight hundred feet in height, with a foundation of dry rock and lava, that might have contained a thousand acres. Everything seemed solid and permanent ; arid our mariners were of opinion there was very little danger of this forma tion ever disappearing below the surface of the sea again. The volcano being in activity, some care was necessary in landing. Mark took the Neshamony to windward, and found a curvature in the rocks where it was possible to get ashore without having the boat knocked to pieces. He and Bob then went as near the cone as the falling stones would allow, and took as good a survey of the place as could be done under the circumstances. That there wouid be soil, and plenty of it, sooner or later, was plain enough ; and that the island might become a scene of fertility and loveliness, in the course of ages, like so many others of volcanic origin in that quarter of the world, was probable. But that day was distant; and Mark was soon satisfied that the great use of the spot was its being a vent to what would otherwise be the pent and dangerous forces that were in the course of a constant accumulation beneath. The party had been about an hour on the island, and was about to quit it, when a most startling discovery was made. Bob saw a canoe drawn close in among the rocks to leeward, and, on a further examination, a man was seen near it. At first, this was taken as an indication of hosti lities, but, on getting a second look, our mariners were satisfied that nothing of that sort was to be seriously ap prehended. It was determined to go nearer to the stranger, at once, and learn the whole truth. A cry from Peters, followed by his immediately spring ing forward to meet a second person, who had left the canoe, and who was bounding like a young antelope to meet him, rendered everything clear sooner even than had been anticipated. All supposed that this eager visiter was a woman, and no one doubted that it was Peggy, the poor fellow s Indian wife. Peggy it proved to be; and after the weeping, and laughing, arid caressing of the meeting were a little abated, the following explanation was made by Peters, who spoke the language of his wife with a good ieal of facility, and who acted as interpreter. According to the accounts now given by Peggy, the