irror is arranged to catch
and transmit it, and so on to the fourth. After that I bid good-bye to
the sun, and light my lamp!"

Nigel felt an almost irresistible tendency to smile at this, but the
grave simplicity of the man forbade such familiarity.

"Look yonder," continued the hermit, sweeping one of his long arms
towards Sumatra, "in that direction runs the line of volcanic
disturbance--the fissure of which I have already spoken. Focus this
telescope to suit your sight. Now, do you see the little island away
there to the nor'-west?"

"Yes."

"Well, that is _Varlaten_. I mentioned it when at breakfast. Sweep your
glass round to the nor'ard, the little island there is _Polish Hat_, and
you see _Lang Island_ in the nor'-east. These, with Krakatoa, are merely
the higher parts still remaining above water of the ring or lip of the
ancient crater. This will give you some idea what an enormous mountain
the original of this old volcano must have been. This island-mountain is
estimated to have been twenty-five miles in circumference, and 10,000 to
12,000 feet high. It was blown into the air in 1680, and this island,
with the few islets I have pointed out, is all that remains of it! Now,
cast your eye down the centre of the island on which we stand; you see
several cones of various sizes. These are ancient vents, supposed to be
extinct--"

"But one of them, the one furthest away," interrupted Nigel, steadying
his telescope on the branch of a tree, "seems to be anything but
extinct, for I see a thin column of white smoke or steam rising from
it."

"That is just what I was going to point out. They call that Perboewatan.
It is the lowest peak on the island, about 400 feet high, and stands, I
should say, in the very centre of the ancient crater, where are the two
fissures I have mentioned. For two hundred years Perboewatan has not
smoked like that, and, slight though it is at present, I cannot help
thinking that it indicates an impending eruption, especially when I
consider that earthquakes have become more numerous of late years, and
there was one in 1880 which was so violent as to damage seriously the
lighthouse on Java's First Point."

"Then you have resided here for some time?" said Nigel.

"Yes, for many years," replied the hermit, in a low, sad tone.

"But is it wise in you to stay if you think an explosion so likely?
Don't you needlessly run considerable risk?"

"I do not fear to die."

Nigel looked at his ne