eir shape, they were so
fragile that a kick given by one of the men brought the first down in
powder which partly rose in a cloud, the remainder forming a heap of
ashes.

This was the more curious from the fact that within twenty yards there
was a clump of vegetation evidently of greater age, growing in full
luxuriance. But the reason was soon shown by Panton, who after a few
minutes' examination pointed to a narrow, jagged rift in the earth,
running for twenty or thirty yards, and whose sides upon their peering
down showed that fire must have rushed up with such intensity that in
places the rock was covered with a thick glaze, such as is seen upon
earthenware.

"Strikes me, Tommy Smith--" said Wriggs, after he and the other men had
had their turn at examining the earth crack.

"Well, what strikes yer, and whereabouts?" replied Smith, turning to
give his companions a wink as much as to say, "Hark at him and don't
laugh."

"Hidees, Tommy," said Wriggs, "and they hits me in the head--hard."

"Well, then, matey, let 'em out again and tell us what they mean."

"Tommy, my lad, you're trying to be werry wise and to show off, but
don't do it, mate. This here aren't a place for cutting jokes and
making fun o' your messmate. What I says is--this here place aren't
safe, and the sooner we digs a canawl and takes the old _Planet_ out to
sea the better it'll be for all consarned."

"I knowed it," said Smith, oracularly. "I felt sure as something werry
wise was a coming. How many spades have we got aboard, mates?"

"Not none at all," said one of the men.

"No, not one," said Smith. "I once heard some one may as it would take
a long time to cut through Primrose Hill with a mustard spoon, and I
can't help thinking as it would take as long to make our canal."

"Now, my lads, what are you doing?" cried the mate.

"Only just taking a sniff at the hole here, sir," replied Smith, rising
from his knees.

"Well, and what can you smell--sulphur?"

"No, sir, it's more of a brimstone smell, just as if somebody had been
burning matches down below in the back kitchen, sir. Now, my lads,
forrard," he whispered, for the mate had turned and gone on after the
others.

In a very short time the mountain was forgotten in the many objects of
interest encountered at the edge of the forest, each naturalist finding,
as he afterwards owned, ample specimens connected with his own especial
branch to last him for weeks of earnest study.