As no time was to be lost, they returned along the valley by the way they had come, glancing back every now and then to ascertain the state of the volcano. It was still throwing up volumes of smoke and flame, but no stones or ashes fell where they were. At any moment, however, should the wind change, they might be carried in their direction. The two strangers were much alarmed, and had their strength been greater would have hurried on faster. Lord Reginald kindly took Robson’s arm to help him along, while Dick supported the Frenchman. Robson was much relieved on hearing that his preservers had a boat to carry them away from the island.
“I only hope, sir, that the mountain won’t get worse until the weather moderates, and we are able to put to sea,” he observed.
“We are pretty well accustomed to it now,” said Lord Reginald, “and I hope that we shall run into no real danger. We shall be glad, I own, to get off, if we can find our way to Batavia or any other place in the hands of the British.”
“I have been cruising in these seas for some years, and though the Frenchmen didn’t let us know whereabouts we were, if I could once get sight of Bali or Lombok, or for that matter any of the islands to the eastward of Java, I should soon find my way,” answered Robson.
“One thing is certain, that we must steer to the northward to get into the Java sea, and as we have a compass we shall have no difficulty in doing that,” said Lord Reginald.
“Then, sir, I hope you’ll put off without delay. I don’t like the looks of that mountain blazing away there,” exclaimed Robson, casting an alarmed glance over his shoulder.
“We will not stay longer than is necessary,” said Lord Reginald. “We are thankful that we did not sail yesterday, or our craft would have been lost to a certainty.”
The mate, before entering the hut, was anxious to see the boat, and Lord Reginald and Dick, with some little pride, led the strangers up to her. The mate opened his eyes.
“You are right, sir, in being thankful that you were not at sea last night,” he observed. “She may do very well in smooth water, but in a sea way she would prove a curious craft to manage.”
Dick felt somewhat indignant at this remark, though Lord Reginald only laughed.