Page:The crater; or, Vulcan's peak.djvu/94

88 THE CRATER; of being been the subject of discourse between him and his betrothed. As the seasons of adversity are those in which men are the most apt to bethink them of their duties to God, it is not at all surprising that one of this disposi tion, thus situated, felt renewecf demands on his gratitude and repentance. While Mark, in this frame of mind, went rambling around his narrow domains, Bob got the dingui, and pro ceeded with his fishing-tackle towards some of the naked rocks, that lifted their caps above the surface of the sea, in a north-westerly direction from the crater. Of these naked rocks there were near twenty, all within a mile of the crater, and the largest of them not containing more than six or eight acres of dry surface. Some were less than a hundred feet in diameter. The great extent and irregular formation of the reefs all around the island, kept the water smooth, for some distance, on all sides of it; and it was only when the rollers were sent in by heavy gales, that the dingui could not move about, in this its proper sphere, in safety. Belts was very fond of fishing, and could pass whole days, at a time, in that quiet amusement, provided he had a sufficient supply of tobacco. Indeed, one of the greatest consolations this man possessed, under the present misfor tune, was the ample store of this weed which was to be found in the ship. Every man on board the Rancocus, Mark alone excepted, made use of tobacco; and, for so long a voyage, the provision laid in had been very abun dant. On this occasion, Bob enjoyed his two favourite occupations to satiety, masticating the weed while he fished. With Mark it was very different. He was fond of his fowling-piece, but of little use was that weapon in his pre sent situation. Of all the birds that frequented the adja cent rocks, not one was of a sort that would be eaten, un less in cases of famine. As he walked over the island, that afternoon, his companion was the goat, which had been driven ashore on the new gangway, and was enjoying its liberty almost as much as the ducks. As the animal frisked about him, accompanying him everywhere in his walks, Mark wa<* reminded of the goats of Crusoe, arid his