How to account satisfactorily for the simultaneous destruction of this vast forest of trees, was very difficult; there was no want of rich earth for nourishment of the roots.  The most probable cause appeared to me, a sudden and continued eruption of sulphuric effluvia from the volcano; or else, by some unusually heavy gale of wind or hurricane, the trees had been drenched with salt water to their roots.  One or the other of these causes must have produced the effect.  The philosopher, or the geologist, must decide.

We had the consolation to know that we should at least experience no want of food—­the nests of the birds affording us a plentiful supply of eggs, and young ones of every age; with these we returned loaded to the cove.  The party that had gone to the westward, reported having seen some wild hogs, but were unable to secure any of them; and those who had attempted to ascend the mountain, returned much fatigued, and one of their number missing.  They reported that they had gained the summit of the mountain, where they had discovered a large plain, skirted by a species of fern tree, from twelve to eighteen feet high—­that on this plain they had seen a herd of goats; and among them, could distinguish one of enormous size, which appeared to be their leader.  He was as large as a pony; but all attempts to take one of them were utterly fruitless.  The man who was missing had followed them farther than they had.  They waited some time for his return; but as he did not come to them, they concluded he had taken some other route to the cove.  I did not quite like this story, fearing some dreadful accident had befallen the poor fellow, for whom we kept a watch, and had a fire burning the whole night, which, like the former one, we passed in the huts.  We had an abundant supply of fire-wood from the wreck, and a stream of clear water ran close by our little village.

The next morning, a party was sent in search of the man, and some were sent to fetch a supply of young gannets for our dinner.  The latter brought back with them as many young birds as would suffice for two or three days; but of the three who went in quest of the missing man, only two returned.  They reported that they could gain no tidings of him:  that they had missed one of their own number, who had, no doubt, gone in pursuit of his shipmate.

This intelligence occasioned a great deal of anxiety, and many surmises.  The most prevalent opinion seemed to be that there were wild beasts on the island, and that our poor friends had become a prey to them.  I determined, the next morning, to go in search of them myself, taking one or two chosen men with me.  I should have mentioned, that when we left the sinking vessel, we had taken out a poodle dog, that was on board—­first, because I would not allow the poor animal to perish; and, secondly, because we might, if we had no better food, make a dinner of him.  This was quite fair, as charity begins at home.