It was then that they ran across a Frenchman who was in the business of exporting dyewoods. The Frenchman had met Mr. Robertson and Mr. Newton twice, and transacted some business with both. “They were up at St. Pierre three days before the great eruption,” said the dyewoods exporter, who could speak good English. “They told me that they were going to make a journey overland to Basse Pointe, on the north coast. Whether they started before St. Pierre fell, or whether they were caught on the way, I cannot tell.” This conversation filled Mark and Frank with renewed hope that their parents might have escaped, and they talked the matter over with Professor Strong and Sam and Darry. “Basse Pointe is a small town lying almost directly north of Mont Pelee,” said the professor. “It is just as close to the volcano as St. Pierre and has suffered a good deal, so they say, although not as much as the city.” “But couldn’t we go up there in some kind of a boat, or overland?” questioned Mark, eagerly. “Perhaps my father and Frank’s are up there?” The professor said he would make inquiries, and set about doing so without delay. He could find no boat running to Basse Pointe, but there was a native craft about to sail for St. Marie, a village about ten miles below the point they wished to gain. “Then I’m going to St. Marie and travel overland to Basse Pointe,” said Mark, and Frank said the same. “And I’ll go with you,” put in Sam. “Ditto myself,” chimed in Darry. “I want to see something of this volcanic eruption before I leave Martinique.” “Well, you fellows can go,” came from Hockley. “But you won’t budge me. If there comes another downpour of lava, rocks and mud you’ll all be killed.” Darry was about to say something about a coward, when Mark stopped him. “We don’t want Hockley anyway,” he whispered. “And it is just as dangerous as he says.” Another talk followed, and it was hard work for the boys to get Professor Strong to consent to the plan. But the professor was secretly as eager as any of them, for he knew that the scientific magazines would welcome an article from his pen describing the condition of this territory immediately after the great eruption. “I cannot blame Mark and Frank for wanting to go,” he said. “But as to you, Samuel, and Dartworth----” “Oh, you must consent!” interrupted Darry. “What are we journeying around for if not to see the sights? And this is such a sight as comes only once in a lifetime.” So it was settled; and that evening found the five on the ship bound for St. Marie. Hockley was left at a hotel in Fort de France to await their return. CHAPTER XXXI DANGEROUS VOLCANO EXPLORING The journey to St. Marie was made without special incident, and thirty-six hours later the party landed in the little village, to find it all but deserted. Many of the inhabitants had fled in boats and others had journeyed overland to Fort de France.