Before he arose to his feet, after reaching the top of the rock, Jack struck another match.
He found that he was safe for the present, for it was not at all likely that the monster could get up there.
He concluded to endeavor to bring Joe to consciousness.
He threw the match down at his feet, and then started to stoop over the boy.
But before he could reach him, a bright flame shot up from the spot where the match had fallen.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed the young Englishman, "I have set the rock on fire."
Leaving Joe for an instant, he proceeded to see what it was that had become ignited. The flame, which was still burning with a steady light, made it easy for him to see.
The spot where the match had fallen was near the center of the rock, which appeared to be filled with a mixture of coal dust and pitch, as Jack afterward put it.
The pithy substance seemed to extend clear through the rock, and as soon as Jack saw what it was that was burning, he concluded to let it go, as it furnished him a very good light to see what was going on around him. He now could hear a sharp, clicking noise all around the rock, and a glance showed the place to be alive with monsters like the one which had started to carry off Joe.
Their huge claws, opening and shutting, caused the noise.