Chapter I: Preface

The extremely violent nature of the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa in 1883, the peculiar beauty of those parts of the eastern seas where the event occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accompanying phenomena, and the tremendous devastation which resulted, have all inspired me with a desire to bring the matter, in the garb of a tale, before that portion of the juvenile world which accords me a hearing.

For most of the facts connected with the eruption which have been imported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to the recently published important and exhaustive "Report" of the Krakatoa Committee, appointed by the Royal Society to make a thorough investigation of the whole matter in all its phases.

I have also to acknowledge having obtained much interesting and useful information from the following among other works:--_The Malay Archipelago_, by A.R. Wallace; _A Naturalist's Wanderings in the Eastern Archipelago_, by H.O. Forbes; and Darwin's _Journal of Researches_ round the world in H.M.S. "Beagle."

R.M. BALLANTYNE.

HARROW-ON-THE HILL, 1889.

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

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

VIGNETTE TITLE.

"HE CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."--PAGE 112, _Frontispiece_.

ART ON THE KEELING ISLANDS, _facing page_ 36

THEY DISCOVER A PIRATES' BIVOUAC, 164

"DO YOU HEAR?" SAID VERKIMIER, STERNLY, 187

BLOWN TO BITS 342

BLOWN TO BITS

A TALE OF THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.