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Chapter 9. A Lost Continent

           Whohadplacedthoserocksandstoneslikecromlechsofprehistorictimes?WherewasI?WhitherhadCaptainNemo’sfancyhurriedme?

           Iwouldfainhaveaskedhim;notbeingableto,IstoppedhimIseizedhisarm.But,shakinghishead,andpointingtothehighestpointofthemountain,heseemedtosay:

           "Come,comealong;comehigher!"

           Ifollowed,andinafewminutesIhadclimbedtothetop,whichforacircleoftenyardscommandedthewholemassofrock.

           Ilookeddownthesidewehadjustclimbed.Themountaindidnotrisemorethansevenoreighthundredfeetabovetheleveloftheplain;butontheoppositesideitcommandedfromtwicethatheightthedepthsofthispartoftheAtlantic.Myeyesrangedfaroveralargespacelitbyaviolentfulguration.Infact,themountainwasavolcano.

           Atfiftyfeetabovethepeak,inthemidstofarainofstonesandscoriae,alargecraterwasvomitingforthtorrentsoflavawhichfellinacascadeoffireintothebosomoftheliquidmass.Thussituated,thisvolcanolitthelowerplainlikeanimmensetorch,eventotheextremelimitsofthehorizon.Isaidthatthesubmarinecraterthrewuplava,butnoflames.Flamesrequiretheoxygenoftheairtofeeduponandcannotbedevelopedunderwater;butstreamsoflava,havinginthemselvestheprinciplesoftheirincandescence,canattainawhiteheat,fightvigorouslyagainsttheliquidelement,andturnittovapourbycontact.

           RapidcurrentsbearingallthesegasesindiffusionandtorrentsoflavaslidtothebottomofthemountainlikeaneruptionofVesuviusonanotherTerradelGreco.

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