“Is that Mr Bartlett firing one of the yacht’s guns for a recall?” said Sir John.
“No, sir; they could not make a noise like that.”
“It could not be thunder,” said Jack.
“Oh yes, it could,” said the captain. “I’ve heard short sharp cracks like that often out here, but I don’t think that was thunder.”
“Must have been,” cried the doctor. “Why, I saw the flash. There! Look!”
A bright light suddenly appeared from somewhere inland, followed at a few seconds’ interval by a heavy detonation, exactly like the firing of a great gun.
“Now what do you say, Captain Bradleigh?” cried Sir John.
“That it is what I thought at first, sir. The mountain yonder is firing a shot or two. If we had been out at sea, I dare say we should have seen a great red-hot stone flying up and falling back.”
“Then there is going to be an eruption,” cried Jack in excited tones.
“That does not follow at all. Some of these volcanoes do no more perhaps than make a rumbling, and send up a few red-hot stones now and then. Forward now, gentlemen. Close up, my lads, and follow two and two.”