vast
lake boiling beneath them. Everybody started up; Billy Blueblazes,
seizing hold of Desmond, alongside whom he was sleeping, exclaimed--

"Is the volcano going to burst out and smother us? Won't it be better
to run for it?"

"Arrah, sure it will be running faster than we can," answered Desmond,
who wasn't quite comfortable, though he didn't wish to show it.

On looking over the cliff, however, the lake was seen boiling away as
before, sending up here and there spouts of fire, which at the distance
they were below them looked like flashes from firearms at night, though
probably fifty or sixty feet in height. No one, however, felt inclined
to turn in again for some time, in spite of the cool air which circled
round them. As they looked over the crater, the shadows from its mighty
walls were cast upwards, reaching, it seemed, to the sky, and giving it
the appearance of being clothed in a dark cloud.

"It is very fine," cried Terence at length; "but if we wish to enjoy our
ramble to-morrow, we shall be wise to get a little more sleep."

His advice was followed. After breakfast next morning several of the
party started off to walk round the crater, while the more adventurous
ones, including the two commanders, Tom, and Desmond, with a couple of
Kanaka guides, again descended another part of the cliff to the ledge.
On looking at the spot where they had stood on the previous evening, a
thrilling sensation came over them as they observed that it had
disappeared in the burning lava below--the cause undoubtedly of the
noise which had startled them during the night. Still they were anxious
to get close down to the boiling lava, and obtain some of it in a state
of fusion. Their guide confessed that many had gone and come back safe,
but that he considered it an expedition of no slight danger. Probably
at that moment neither Jack nor Terence were thinking of their wives at
home.

They had gone some way, when suddenly the whole mass surged upwards, and
the lava on which they were walking began to crack, while terrific
reports were heard.

"Back! back!" cried the guide. They needed no second warning, but,
keeping apart, made for the upper ledge. All had gamed it, except Tom,
who, being at a distance from the rest, made for a part which when he
got up to it he found inaccessible. Close behind him at that moment the
crust was rent asunder by a terrific heave, and a vast jet of molten
lava, with a fearful noise, ros