Quickly Garth explained the extraordinary phenomenon they had witnessed.
“And Mervyn can’t figure it out either?” questioned Haverly.
“No,” returned the inventor, “he’s as much in the dark as we are. But here he comes; you can question him yourself.”
“Say, Mervyn, can’t you enlighten us some?” Silas asked, as the scientist came in from the deck.
“Whatever are you doing here, Silas?” he asked sternly. “You should not have ventured up so soon.”
“I guess I’ll improve considerable more rapid up here than down below,” returned the Yankee.
“Perhaps so,” was the reply, “if you only take care. But you must not abuse your returning strength.”
“No, I cannot explain the phenomenon,” he went on, shaking his head, “though I fear it must be due to volcanic agency. Hark!”
Again that thunder-like muttering rolled out of the distance, but the attention of the comrades was distracted from the ominous sound by a faint cry from Haverly.
“Jupiter! Another fire-message!”