A FIRE AND A CRY. 21/ the ocean itself was being torn from its bed and flung over the devoted little island. Hobson could not help wondering how it was that the ice-field which supported it was not broken in a hundred places in this violent convulsion of the sea, the roaring of which could be distinctly- heard where he stood. Presently Long, who was a few steps in advance, stopped suddenly, and turning round managed to make the Lieutenant hear the broken words — " Not that way ! " "Why not?" "The sea!" " What, the sea ! We cannot possibly have got to the south- east coast ! " " Look, look, Lieutenant ! " It was true, a vast sheet of water was indistinctly visible before them, and large waves were rolling up and breaking at the Lieu- tenant's feet. Hobson again had recourse to his flint, and with the aid of some lighted touchwood consulted the needle of his compass very care- fully. " No," he said, " the sea is farther to the left, we have not yet passed the wood between us and Cape MichaeL" " Then it is " "It is a fracture of the island ! " cried Hobson, as both were compelled to fling themselves to the ground before the wind ; " either a large portion of our land has been broken off and drifted away, or a gulf has been made, which we can go round. Forwards ! " They struggled to their feet and turned to the right towards the centre of the island. For about ten minutes they pressed on in silence, fearing, not without reason, that all communication with the south of the island would be found to be cut off. Presently, however, they no longer heard the noise of the breakers. " It is only a gulf." screamed Hobson in the Sergeant's ear. " Let us turn round." And they resumed their original direction towards the south, but both knew only too well that they had a fearful danger to face, for that portion of the island on which they were was evidently cracked for a long distance, and might at any moment separate entirely ; should it do so under the influence of the waves, they would inevitably be drifted away, whither they knew not. Yet they did
