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BLOWN TO BITS

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAP. I.--THE PLAY COMMENCES, 1

II.--THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING, 9

III.--INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS, 19

IV.--NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING
EXPERIENCES, 33

V.--CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON,
WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND SUDDENLY FORMS
AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE, 47

VI.--THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED, 58

VII.--WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND, 72

VIII.--PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT, 89

IX.--DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING
UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES, 99

X.--A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT--THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE
BEGUN, 111

XI.--CANOEING ON THE SEA--A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE
AND SUDDEN FLIGHT, 123

XII.--WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA, 140

XIII.--FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A
LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES, 153

XIV.--A NEW FRIEND FOUND--NEW DANGERS ENCOUNTERED
AND NEW HOPES DELAYED, 173

XV.--HUNTING THE GREAT MAN-MONKEY, 189

XVI.--BEGINS WITH A TERRIBLE FIGHT AND ENDS WITH
A HASTY FLIGHT, 204

XVII.--TELLS OF THE JOYS, ETC., OF THE PROFESSOR IN
THE SUMATRAN FORESTS, ALSO OF A CATASTROPHE
AVERTED, 217

XVIII.--A TRYING ORDEAL--DANGER THREATENS AND
FLIGHT AGAIN RESOLVED ON, 230

XIX.--A TERRIBLE MURDER AND A STRANGE REVELATION, 243

XX.--NIGEL MAKES A CONFIDANT OF MOSES--UNDERTAKES
A LONELY WATCH AND SEES SOMETHING WONDERFUL, 259

XXI.--IN WHICH THE PROFESSOR DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF, 276

XXII.--A PYTHON DISCOVERED AND A GEYSER INTERVIEWED, 297

XXIII.--TELLS OF VOLCANIC FIRES AND A STRANGE
RETURN "HOME," 307

XXIV.--AN AWFUL NIGHT AND TERRIBLE MORNING, 324

XXV.--ADVENTURES OF THE "SUNSHINE" AND AN UNEXPECTED
REUNION, 343

XXVI.--A CLIMAX, 361

XXVII.--"BLOWN TO BITS," 371

XXVIII.--THE FATE OF THE "SUNSHINE," 377

XXIX.--TELLS CHIEFLY OF THE WONDERFUL EFFECTS OF
THIS ERUPTION ON THE WORLD AT LARGE, 385

XXX.--COMING EVENTS, ETC.--WONDERFUL CHANGES
AMONG THE ISLANDS, 401

XXXI.--ENDS WITH A STRUGGLE BETWEEN INCLINATION
AND DUTY, 414

XXXII.--THE LAST, 425

BLOWN TO BITS

A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.

CHAPTER I.

THE PLAY COMMENCES.

Blown to bits; bits so inconceivably, so ineffably, so "microscopically"
small that--but let us not anticipate.

About the darkest hour of a very dark night, in the year 1883, a large
brig lay becalmed on the Indian Ocean, not far from that region of the
Eastern world which is associated in some minds with spices, volcanoes,
coffee, and piratical junks, namely, the Malay Archipelago.

Two men slowly paced the brig's quarter-deck for some time in silence,
as if the elemental quietude which prevailed above and below had
infected them. Both men were broad, and apparently strong. One of them
was tall; the other short. More than this the feeble light of the
binnacle-lamp failed to reveal.

"Father," said the tall man to the short one, "I do like to hear the
gentle pattering of the reef points on the sails; it is so suggestive of
peace and rest. Doesn't it strike you so?"

"Can't say it does, lad," replied the short man, in a voice which,
naturally mellow and hearty, had been rendered nautically harsh and
gruff by years of persistent roaring in the teeth of wind and weather.
"More suggestive to me of lost time and lee-way."

The son laughed lightly, a pleasant, kindly, soft laugh, in keeping with
the scene and hour.

"1100592312"

BLOWN TO BITS