“Hush, do not speak of unpleasant things to-day,” said Enola. “We can put in our time to so much better advantage. See, is not the country beautiful hereabouts?”
“It grows wilder as we go farther and the scenes change very frequently. We can just see the great cliffs on the western side of On and they do not look so far away, do they? And we can hardly believe in looking at them that it would take ten days to reach them. And look, there is a column of smoke arising from them. What causes that?”
The men looked at the strange sight, but could give no answer. There was certainly a column of smoke ascending from what looked like the cliffs, but this might have been at a point far this side of them. Still the sight was very unusual, in fact, it was entirely unaccountable and it puzzled all the natives as well as the strangers.
“It could not be some of your people burning the debris left by the storm,” said Mr. Bruce to Onrai.
“No, that smoke comes from far away,” said Onrai, “but it would take a tremendous fire to cause smoke which could be seen from here.”
“I should say,” said Mr. Graham, “that the smoke rose from the cliff and not from any point this side.”
“Yes, but what would make such a smoke at the cliffs?” asked Onrai.
“I cannot answer that,” said Mr. Graham, “But I think that you will find that I am right. Have you ever had any active volcanoes in your country?”
“I do not understand you,” said Onrai.
“You do not know the meaning of the word?” asked Mr. Bruce.