Twice over, as the diagonal ascent grew steeper, the blacks halted for about half-an-hour, and the prisoners were glad to lie down in the shelter of one of the lava blocks with which the slope was strewn, the cool air which came from the sea being fresh and invigorating; and the second time Ned suddenly exclaimed—
“Not going to take us up to the top, are they, and pitch us into the fire?”
“Not likely, Ned,” replied Jack; “but we little expected to make the ascent like this.”
“With our hands tied behind us, sir.”
“I believe they are going this way so as to avoid the forest, and as soon as we get a little farther round they will begin to descend on the other side.”
Jack’s idea proved to be correct, for upon reaching a spot where nothing but a friable slope of fine ashes kept them from the summit, the leader suddenly leaped down into a hollow which was scored into the mountain side, and began to descend, followed by the rest.
“Due west,” said Jack thoughtfully. “Why, Ned, we shall reach the shore far from where we left the yacht.”
“If it goes straight down, sir; but is it west?”
“Yes, we are going straight for the sun now, and this gash in the mountain grows deeper. Look.”
“Yes, that’s right, sir; but I do wish we could get to some water now. It’s a dry journey from here to the shore, and you’re beginning to be done up.”