The air was still full of flying sparks, and of lava stones which dropped in showers into the water.
For full half an hour the commotion continued, when, suddenly, the doomed island disappeared forever, while the agitated waves continued to bubble and boil long afterwards, over the spot where it had existed.
Gradually the fearful red lustre of sky and sea died away. A gloom, appalling from its strange suddenness, fell upon the sea.
The canoe with its occupants floated in darkness upon the agitated waters.
[CHAPTER XVIII.]
CONCLUSION.
The men in the canoe continued paddling ahead. There was no sleep for any of the occupants during that night.
When daylight stole upon the sea they looked toward the spot, far astern, where the island had been but where there was nothing now to mark the spot except a mass of agitated waters, gradually subsiding.
Straight and tall, at the stern of the canoe, sat the stranger guide, he whose features had previously been hidden and the breadfruit leaf, now thrust aside.