Таємничий острів

           "Thatisnotsurprising,"answeredthereporter."Thereawakeningofthevolcanoalreadydatesbacksometime.Youmayremember,Cyrus,thatthefirstvaporsappearedaboutthetimewesearchedthesidesofthemountaintodiscoverCaptainNemo’sretreat.Itwas,ifImistakenot,aboutthe15thofOctober."

           "Yes,"repliedHerbert,"twomonthsandahalfago!"

           "Thesubterraneanfireshavethereforebeensmolderingfortenweeks,"resumedGideonSpilett,"anditisnottobewonderedatthattheynowbreakoutwithsuchviolence!"

           "Donotyoufeelacertainvibrationofthesoil?"askedCyrusHarding.

           "Yes,"repliedGideonSpilett,"butthereisagreatdifferencebetweenthatandanearthquake."

           "Idonotaffirmthatwearemenacedwithanearthquake,"answeredCyrusHarding,"mayGodpreserveusfromthat!No;thesevibrationsareduetotheeffervescenceofthecentralfire.Thecrustoftheearthissimplytheshellofaboiler,andyouknowthatsuchashell,underthepressureofsteam,vibrateslikeasonorousplate.itisthiseffectwhichisbeingproducedatthismoment."

           "Whatmagnificentflames!"exclaimedHerbert.

           Atthisinstantakindofbouquetofflamesshotforthfromthecrater,thebrilliancyofwhichwasvisibleeventhroughthevapors.Thousandsofluminoussheetsandbarbedtonguesoffirewerecastinvariousdirections.Some,extendingbeyondthedomeofsmoke,dissipatedit,leavingbehindanincandescentpowder.