The inventor’s answer was drowned in a thunderous detonation, which shook every plate in the Seal’s hull.
The side of the cone above her burst open, and a torrent of glowing lava, leaping forth, plunged downward towards the lake.
For an instant it seemed as though the ill-fated submarine would be overwhelmed; but, changing its course at the last moment, with a deafening roar the lava river emptied itself into the lake.
The uproar which followed baffles description.
A series of fearful reports rang out as the two elements met, and the maddened waters, driven backwards for a moment by the fury of the molten torrent, rolled shoreward once more in one tremendous wave, beneath which, for a short time, the Seal was completely submerged.
The water hissed and boiled as it poured over the cooling lava, and a cloud of sulphurous vapour rolled upward from the surface of the lake, to lose itself amid the whirling wreaths of the brooding cloud above.
The heat became terrible as the time went on.
The atmosphere of the boat was like that of an oven, and great beads of sweat poured off the watchers, as they stood, with straining eyes and haggard faces, gazing on all the awful grandeur of the eruption.
Their furs they had long since laid aside, and, ere long, their jackets followed; but the feeling of oppression seemed to lessen not a whit.
Their tongues were dry as parchment, despite the copious draughts of water with which they attempted to slake their thirst.