Таинственный остров

           Andtheyworkedawaywithoutlosingamoment.

           "Master,"askedNeb,afewdayslater,"doyouthinkallthiscouldhavehappenedifCaptainNemohadbeenstillalive?"

           "Certainly,Neb,"answeredCyrusHarding.

           "I,forone,don’tbelieveit!"whisperedPencrofttoNeb.

           "NorI!"answeredNebseriously.

           DuringthefirstweekofMarchappearancesagainbecamemenacing.Thousandsofthreadslikeglass,formedoffluidlava,felllikerainupontheisland.Thecraterwasagainboilingwithlavawhichoverflowedthebackofthevolcano.Thetorrentflowedalongthesurfaceofthehardenedtufa,anddestroyedthefewmeagerskeletonsoftreeswhichhadwithstoodthefirsteruption.Thestream,flowingthistimetowardsthesouthwestshoreofLakeGrant,stretchedbeyondCreekGlycerine,andinvadedtheplateauofProspectHeights.Thislastblowtotheworkofthecolonistswasterrible.Themill,thebuildingsoftheinnercourt,thestables,werealldestroyed.Theaffrightedpoultryfledinalldirections.TopandJupshowedsignsofthegreatestalarm,asiftheirinstinctwarnedthemofanimpendingcatastrophe.Alargenumberoftheanimalsoftheislandhadperishedinthefirsteruption.ThosewhichsurvivedfoundnorefugebutTadornMarsh,saveafewtowhichtheplateauofProspectHeightsaffordedasylum.Buteventhislastretreatwasnowclosedtothem,andthelava-torrent,flowingovertheedgeofthegranitewall,begantopourdownuponthebeachitscataractsoffire.Thesublimehorrorofthisspectaclepassedalldescription