"Couldn't we leave it just where it is until we come back to-morrow?" ventured Ruth. "There isn't a soul on the island, and we'll be here the first thing in the morning." "A little too risky, I'm afraid," said Tyke. "It's dollars to doughnuts that there's no one on the island but ourselves and the boat's crew; yet we'd go 'round kicking ourselves for the rest of our lives if we found to-morrow that some one had been here an' helped himself." "Let's pile some of these loose lava blocks on top of the chest," said Drew. "Make a regular mound. It will look as though the earthquake had done it." That plan seemed the best, and they acted on it. They closed the cover after one more lingering, delighted look at the chest's gleaming contents, then they built the cairn. "One sure thing," observed Tyke. "There isn't anybody going to come up here for jest a little pleasure jog--not much! That volcano's likely to spit again 'most any time." The party started for the lagoon with their hearts bounding with exultation. But as they entered the forest path they were startled by the sight of Rogers and his men hastening toward them. The captain was about to utter a rebuke, but when he saw the pale and frightened faces of the men he checked his tongue. "Well, Mr. Rogers, what is it?" he asked. "Got a pretty good scare, I suppose, like the rest of us. I guess the quake's all over now." "I hope so, sir," replied the second officer. "I thought sure it was all over with the lot of us. But it isn't that, sir, that I came back for. The boat's gone." "Gone!" exclaimed the captain, staring. "Yes, sir. It must have pushed away from the shore when the earth shook so. Just down here below a bit is a place where you can see the lagoon, and I caught sight of the boat about half-way between the shore and the ship." "Oh well, if that's all, there isn't any great harm done. Mr. Ditty will send out and pick up the boat." "But there's something else, sir," went on the seaman hoarsely. "As I looked out, it seemed to me, sir, as if the reef had closed up behind the schooner." "What?" roared the captain. "It's gospel truth sir," persisted the second officer. "I thought at first I must be dreaming. But I looked carefully, sir, and you can call me a swab if it isn't so! I couldn't see any sign at all of the passage where we came in, sir." The captain's bronzed face paled, as the full significance of the news burst upon him. "Come along and show me the place where you can see the schooner," he commanded, and started to run, followed by the whole party. They had not far to go. At a place where the earthquake had rooted out a monster tree, a clear view could be had of the entire lagoon.