“Oh, yes, sir,” said Smith; “but if it’s all the same to you, sir, I should like to know how that there thing works.”
“Ah! that’s more than I can tell you,” replied Oliver, looking at the basin, which was once more clear blue, and as smooth as if it had never been disturbed. “It’s a geyser, of course.”
“Yes, sir,” said Smith, as Oliver looked at him as if expecting he would speak; “I thought it was some’at o’ that sort.”
“And such things are not uncommon in volcanic countries.”
“Arn’t they though, sir?” said Smith, with a puzzled expression. “But it warn’t byling hot.”
“Oh, no, not within some seventy degrees.”
“Then how come it to byle over, sir? Ain’t that rather cur’us?”
“Yes, very curious indeed.”
“Yes, sir, and this seems to be a rather cur’us place.”
“Yes, Smith, and very grand and wonderful. We have been extremely fortunate to get ashore in such a naturalist’s paradise.”