“Look here,” said Mr. Hampton, jumping to his feet, “this is dangerous. Has it ever erupted?” he asked Michac.
“Never in our history,” said the latter. “Yet, although it has smoked slightly at times, never has it smoked as it is doing now. From the battlement I could see a dense and growing column of smoke.”
“Let us go and look.”
Prince Huaca, too, looked grave. He acquiesced in Mr. Hampton’s suggestion, and at once led the way to the battlement. Although the truncated top of the volcano could not be seen, being cut off from view by the flank of the mountain against which the Acropolis was built, yet the column of smoke rising above it could be seen plainly. It was black and greasy in appearance, and there was even a faint suggestion of flame at the base.
“This is alarming,” said Don Ernesto gravely. “My advice is to leave here at once, if we would gain the outer valley.”
Prince Huaca was silent for a space.
“And is the city really threatened?”
“Prince,” said Don Ernesto, “there are other volcanoes in these mountains. I have had experience of them. I believe the danger is great. There may not be an earthquake of serious proportions, but that slight tremor which we felt is alarming. I fear there will be greater shocks and that the mountain will erupt.”
“There is no escape from Cusco Hurrin except by the Tunnel Way,” said the prince. “This earthquake of which you speak? What is it like?”
“It is a shaking of the earth which would close the Tunnel Way,” said Don Ernesto. “And the eruption is an outpouring of hot mud and stones from the mountain, which would ruin the city and slay all in it.”