“Look at him,” whispered Smith to his companion—“ay, tools for everything. Thank-ye, sir,” he added as he took the soap, stepped down close to the edge of the basin, and plunged in his hands, to withdraw them with a shout of excitement.
“What’s the matter?” said Drew, laughing.
“It’s hot, sir. Water’s hot!”
“Well, my lad, it is a hot spring. There’s nothing surprising in that. We’re in a volcanic land.”
“Are we, sir?” said the man, staring at him. “And is this volcanic water?”
“Of course.”
“But where does it get hot, sir?”
“Down below.”
“What! is there a fire underneath where we are standing?”
“Yes; deep down.”