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resumed。 〃My father never comes this way。 The sight of the place where my mother died is horrible to him。 You are safe here。 Promise to stay where you are till night…time。〃
The Captain gave his promise。
Freed from anxiety so far； the girl's mobile temperament recovered its native cheerfulness； its sweet gayety and spirit。 She admired the beautiful stranger as she might have admired a new bird that had flown to her to be fondled with the rest。 She patted his fair white skin； and wished she had a skin like it。 She lifted the great glossy folds of her long black hair； and compared it with the Captain's bright curly locks； and longed to change colors with him from the bottom of her heart。 His dress was a wonder to her； his watch was a new revelation。 She rested her head on his shoulder to listen delightedly to the ticking； as he held the watch to her ear。 Her fragrant breath played on his face； her warm； supple figure rested against him softly。 The Captain's arm stole round her waist； and the Captain's lips gently touched her cheek。 She lifted her head with a look of pleased surprise。 〃Thank you；〃 said the child of Nature； simply。 〃Kiss me again； I like it。 May I kiss you？〃 The tame turtle…dove perched on her shoulder as she gave the Captain her first kiss； and diverted her thoughts to the pets that she had left； in pursuit of the truant dove。 〃Come；〃 she said； 〃and see my birds。 I keep them on this side of the forest。 There is no danger； so long as you don't show yourself on the other side。 My name is Aimata。 Aimata will take care of you。 Oh； what a beautiful white neck you have！〃 She put her arm admiringly round his neck。 The Captain's arm held her tenderly to him。 Slowly the two descended the cliff； and were lost in the leafy solitudes of the forest。 And the tame dove fluttered before them； a winged messenger of love； cooing to his mate。
VI。
THE night had come； and the Captain had not left the island。
Aimata's resolution to send him away in the darkness was a forgotten resolution already。 She had let him persuade her that he was in no danger； so long as he remained in the hut on the cliff； and she had promised； at parting； to return to him while the Priest was still sleeping； at the dawn of day。
He was alone in the hut。 The thought of the innocent creature whom he loved was sorrowfully as well as tenderly present to his mind。 He almost regretted his rash visit to the island。 〃I will take her with me to England；〃 he said to himself。 〃What does a sailor care for the opinion of the world？ Aimata shall be my wife。〃
The intense heat oppressed him。 He stepped out on the cliff； toward midnight； in search of a breath of air。
At that moment； the first shock of earthquake （felt in the ship while she was inside the reef） shook the ground he stood on。 He instantly thought of the volcano on the main island。 Had he been mistaken in supposing the crater to be extinct？ Was the shock that he had just felt a warning from the volcano； communicated through a submarine connection between the two islands？ He waited and watched through the hours of darkness； with a vague sense of apprehension； which was not to be reasoned away。 With the first light of daybreak he descended into the forest； and saw the lovely being whose safety was already precious to him as his own； hurrying to meet him through the trees。
She waved her hand distractedly as she approached him。 〃Go！〃 she cried； 〃go away in your canoe before our island is destroyed！〃
He did his best to quiet her alarm。 Was it the shock of earthquake that had frightened her？ No： it was more than the shock of earthquakeit was something terrible which had followed the shock。 There was a lake near the Temple； the waters of which were supposed to be heated by subterranean fires。 The lake had risen with the earthquake； had bubbled furiously； and had then melted away into the earth and been lost。 Her father； viewing the portent with horror； had gone to the cape to watch the volcano on the main island； and to implore by prayers and sacrifices the protection of the gods。 Hearing this； the Captain entreated Aimata to let him see the emptied lake； in the absence of the Priest。 She hesitated； but his influence was all…powerful。 He prevailed on her to turn back with him through the forest。
Reaching the furthest limit of the trees； they came out upon open rocky ground which sloped gently downward toward the center of the island。 Having crossed this space； they arrived at a natural amphitheater of rock。 On one side of it the Temple appeared； partly excavated； partly formed by a natural cavern。 In one of the lateral branches of the cavern was the dwelling of the Priest and his daughter。 The mouth of it looked out on the rocky basin of the lake。 Stooping over the edge； the Captain discovered； far down in the empty depths； a light cloud of steam。 Not a drop of water was visible； look where he might。
Aimata pointed to the abyss； and hid her face on his bosom。 〃My father says；〃 she whispered； 〃that it is your doing。〃
The Captain started。 〃Does your father know that I am on the island？〃
She looked up at him with a quick glance of reproach。 〃Do you think I would tell him； and put your life in peril？〃 she asked。 〃My father felt the destroyer of the island in the earthquake； my father saw the coming destruction in the disappearance of the lake。〃 Her eyes rested on him with a loving languor。 〃Are you indeed the demon of the prophecy？〃 she said； winding his hair round her finger。 〃I am not afraid of you； if you are。 I am a creature bewitched； I love the demon。〃 She kissed him passionately。 〃I don't care if I die；〃 she whispered between the kisses； 〃if I only die with you！〃
The Captain made no attempt to reason with her。 He took the wiser wayhe appealed to her feelings。
〃You will come and live with me happily in my own country；〃 he said。 〃My ship is waiting for us。 I will take you home with me； and you shall be my wife。〃
She clapped her hands for joy。 Then she thought of her father； and drew back from him in tears。
The Captain understood her。 〃Let us leave this dreary place；〃 he suggested。 〃We will talk about it in the cool glades of the forest； where you first said you loved me。〃
She gave him her hand。 〃Where I first said I loved you！〃 she repeated； smiling tenderly as she looked at him。 They left the lake together。
VII。
THE darkness had fallen again； and the ship was still becalmed at sea。
Mr。 Duncalf came on deck after his supper。 The thin line of smoke； seen rising from the peak of the mountain that evening； was now succeeded by ominous flashes of fire from the same quarter； intermittently visible。 The faint hot breeze from the land was felt once more。 〃There's just an air of wind；〃 Mr。 Duncalf remarked。 〃I'll try for the Captain while I have the chance。〃
One of the boats was lowered into the waterunder command of the second mate； who had already taken the bearings of the tabooed island by daylight。 Four of the men were to go with him； and they were all to be well armed。 Mr。 Duncalf addressed his final instructions to the officer in the boat。
〃You will keep a lookout； sir； with a lantern in the bows。 If the natives annoy you； you know what to do。 Always shoot