BLOWN TO BITS

OR

THE LONELY MAN OF RAKATA.

A Tale of the Malay Archipelago.

BY R.M. BALLANTYNE,

AUTHOR OF "BLUE LIGHTS, OR HOT WORK IN THE SOUDAN;" "THE FUGITIVES;""RED ROONEY;" "THE ROVER OF THE ANDES;" "THE WILD MAN OF THE WEST;" "THERED ERIC;" "FREAKS ON THE FELLS;" "THE YOUNG TRAWLER;" "DUSTY DIAMONDS;""THE BATTERY AND THE BOILER;" "POST HASTE;" "BLACK IVORY;" "THE IRONHORSE;" "FIGHTING THE FLAMES;" "THE LIFEBOAT;" ETC. ETC.

With Illustrations by the Author.

EIGHTH THOUSAND.

LONDON:

JAMES NISBET & CO., 21 BERNERS STREET.

1894.

PREFACE.

The extremely violent nature of the volcanic eruption in Krakatoa in1883, the peculiar beauty of those parts of the eastern seas where theevent occurred, the wide-spread influences of the accompanyingphenomena, and the tremendous devastation which resulted, have allinspired 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 beenimported into my story, I have to acknowledge myself indebted to therecently published important and exhaustive "Report" of the KrakatoaCommittee, appointed by the Royal Society to make a thoroughinvestigation of the whole matter in all its phases.

I have also to acknowledge having obtained much interesting and usefulinformation from the following among other works:—The MalayArchipelago, by A.R. Wallace; A Naturalist's Wanderings in the EasternArchipelago, by H.O. Forbes; and Darwin's Journal of Researches roundthe world in H.M.S. "Beagle."

R.M. BALLANTYNE.

HARROW-ON-THE HILL, 1889.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.—THE PLAY COMMENCES
CHAPTER II.—THE HAVEN IN THE CORAL RING
CHAPTER III.—INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF VARIOUS KINDS
CHAPTER IV.—NIGEL UNDERGOES SOME QUITE NEW AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES
CHAPTER V.—CAPTAIN ROY SURPRISES AND GRATIFIES HIS SON, WHO SURPRISES A NEGRO, AND SUDDENLY FORMS AN ASTONISHING RESOLVE
CHAPTER VI.—THE HERMIT OF RAKATA INTRODUCED
CHAPTER VII.—WONDERS OF THE HERMIT'S CAVE AND ISLAND
CHAPTER VIII.—PERBOEWATAN BECOMES MODERATELY VIOLENT
CHAPTER IX.—DESCRIBES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A SINGULAR MEETING UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES
CHAPTER X.—A CURIOUS SEA-GOING CRAFT—THE UNKNOWN VOYAGE BEGUN
CHAPTER XI.—CANOEING ON THE SEA—A MYSTERIOUS NIGHT-SURPRISE AND SUDDEN FLIGHT
CHAPTER XII.—WEATHERING A STORM IN THE OPEN SEA
CHAPTER XIII.—FRIENDS ARE MET WITH, ALSO PIRATES, AND A LIFE-OR-DEATH PADDLE ENSUES
...

"CAME UNEXPECTEDLY ON A CAVERN."