t," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientific
training in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. The island
of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains no fewer
than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to 12,000
feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at the present
time active ('Yes, much _too_ active,' muttered the negro), and more
than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java was occupied by
Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-vents abound all over
the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon. There is a
distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems to point to a
great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by the subterranean fires.
This tremendous crack or fissure crosses the Straits of Sunda, and in
consequence we find a number of these vents--as volcanic mountains may
be styled--in the Island of Sumatra, which you saw to the nor'ard as you
came along. But there is supposed to be another great crack in the
earth's crust--indicated by several volcanic mountains--which crosses
the other fissure almost at right angles, and at the exact point where
these two lines intersect _stands this island of Krakatoa_!

"I emphasise the fact," continued the hermit after a pause, "first,
because, although this has been a quiescent volcano since the year 1680,
and people have come to regard it as extinct, there are indications now
which lead me to believe that its energy is reviving; and, second,
because this focus where fissures cross each other--this Krakatoa
Island--is in reality part of the crater of an older and much larger
volcanic mountain, which must have been literally blown away in
prehistoric times, and of which Krakatoa and the neighbouring islets of
Varlaten, Polish Hat, Lang Island, and the rest, are but the remnants of
the great crater ring. If these rumblings and minor earthquakes, which I
have noticed of late--and the latest of which you have just
experienced--are the precursors of another explosion, my home here may
be rendered untenable."

"Hi!" exclaimed Moses, who had been listening with open mouth and eyes
to this discourse, which was obviously news to him, "I hope, massa, he
ain't a-gwine to 'splode to-day--anyhow, not till after breakfast!"

"You must have studied the subject of volcanoes a good deal, I suppose,
from what you say," observed Nigel.

"Naturally; living as I do almost on t