uting the shaft, and
could make out streams of lava pouring over the sides of the crater,
going down into the unknown blackness below. What a sight it was! How
their pulses beat! How their hearts quickened!

But now, very unexpectedly, the sight was shut out. Thin, pungent,
volcanic smoke and ash began to surround them. In a few moments it was
so thick that they grew alarmed. All had the same fearful thought--

If this should continue a little while, they would lose their bearings,
and might run right into the fountain of fire itself!

This was a terrifying possibility, for it would mean a horrible death
to every one of them. Fireproof though the airplane was in the general
sense of the word, every one of those in her cabin knew that if they
should ever pass through those licking flames, the great heat in them
would fairly melt the light structure of the machine in the twinkling
of an eye. No metal or wood could withstand that terrible blast a
moment, much less human flesh.

It is small wonder, therefore, that Tom now sent the Sky-Bird off to
the right, and higher, also. They closed the windows, to keep out the
foul smells, and anxiously awaited developments. They could not see a
yard in front of them, so thick were the smoke and gases. It was a
trying time.

Fortunately Tom had taken the best course he could. Five minutes
passed--ten minutes--fifteen--and then the air began to clear. Slowly
the curtain lifted; and presently looking back, they saw that they had
passed the volcano and were leaving it and the island well behind.

Its fires, too, seemed to be burning out. Only a few forks of ghostly
light were coming up from the crater. These grew fainter and fainter,
and in a little while the eruption seemed to have entirely subsided,
for Timor was swallowed up once more in the impenetrable mantle of
night.

CHAPTER XXVI

IN AUSTRALIA

Shortly after five o'clock the next afternoon, Paul saw ahead and to
port what appeared to be haze, but which he and Tom hoped was the
coastline of Australia. Ten minutes later the observer joyfully
pointed out to the pilot unmistakable evidence of an island upon which
stood a tall object--Bathurst Island lighthouse.

John and Tom were routed out, and all saw the rugged outline of the
great island--a continent itself, as large as the United States and
much the same shape--stretching away to the southward and slowly
dwindling into low, sandy, barren shores