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Chapter 10. The Underwater Coalfields

           Totheconglomerateandtrachytesucceededblackbasalt,thefirstdispreadinlayersfullofbubbles,thelatterformingregularprisms,placedlikeacolonnadesupportingthespringoftheimmensevault,anadmirablespecimenofnaturalarchitecture.Betweentheblocksofbasaltwoundlongstreamsoflava,longsincegrowncold,encrustedwithbituminousrays;andinsomeplacestherewerespreadlargecarpetsofsulphur.Amorepowerfullightshonethroughtheuppercrater,sheddingavagueglimmeroverthesevolcanicdepressionsforeverburiedinthebosomofthisextinguishedmountain.Butourupwardmarchwassoonstoppedataheightofabouttwohundredandfiftyfeetbyimpassableobstacles.Therewasacompletevaultedarchoverhangingus,andourascentwaschangedtoacircularwalk.Atthelastchangevegetablelifebegantostrugglewiththemineral.Someshrubs,andevensometrees,grewfromthefracturesofthewalls.Irecognisedsomeeuphorbias,withthecausticsugarcomingfromthem;heliotropes,quiteincapableofjustifyingtheirname,sadlydroopedtheirclustersofflowers,boththeircolourandperfumehalfgone.Hereandtheresomechrysanthemumsgrewtimidlyatthefootofanaloewithlong,sickly-lookingleaves.Butbetweenthestreamsoflava,Isawsomelittlevioletsstillslightlyperfumed,andIadmitthatIsmeltthemwithdelight.Perfumeisthesouloftheflower,andsea-flowershavenosoul.

           Wehadarrivedatthefootofsomesturdydragon-trees,whichhadpushedasidetherockswiththeirstrongroots,whenNedLandexclaimed:

           "Ah!sir,ahive!ahive!"

           "Ahive!"Ireplied,withagestureofincredulity.

           "Yes,ahive,"repeatedtheCanadian,"andbeeshummingroundit."

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