The young captain lost no time in hurrying forward.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Look there, captain. What do you make of that?" questioned the lookout, in return.
Captain Oscar looked in the direction indicated, which was the top of a small hill.
From this hilltop sand was pouring, accompanied by a peculiar something which resembled smoke.
For several minutes both gazed at the extraordinary phenomena in silence.
"That is something new," said Oscar. "I would not mind going a bit closer to investigate."
The words had hardly left his lips when the sand began to shoot up into the air. Then followed something that looked like smoke and steam, and soon the plate glass of the lookout window became hot.
"It's a volcano!" cried Oscar. "I reckon we had better leave this vicinity."
Through the speaking tube he gave orders to George Dross to back the Holland XI.