“I do not think it is advisable to send the men to the mountain just yet,” said Mr. Bruce. “We will want them.”
The party remained on the terrace until far into the night, witnessing the weird sight. The volcano might be said to be in a state of eruption now, but not a violent state of eruption.
“It is certainly throwing off enough matter to be considered in a state of eruption,” said Mr. Graham, as he and Mr. Bruce were about to retire for the night. “But if it grows no worse than this, we are safe.”
“But it will get worse,” said Mr. Bruce.
But, notwithstanding this prediction, on the following morning when the party arose and looked at the volcano, the first thing that had been their wont to do ever since being here, they were surprised to see only a thin column of smoke rising from the volcano. The black cloud had entirely disappeared and a vaporous volume now rising might be taken for that coming from a camp fire, so small and insignificant was it. Mr. Graham and Mr. Bruce looked in astonishment at this new freak in the rather prolific volcano, and were unable to offer any explanations.
“It is beyond explaining, I think,” said Mr. Graham, after the two had stood for a long time contemplating the now almost lifeless volcano.
“It is more than I expected, at any rate,” said Mr. Bruce, a little slowly, as he remembered his last words of the night before.
“You were not alone in your belief of yesterday,” said Mr. Graham, “for we all expected to see a mighty eruption.”
“It is better as it is, probably,” said Mr. Bruce, “but I am disappointed. If it remains as tranquil as this another twenty-four hours, I shall make another visit to its crater and see if it is really as quiet as it looks.”
“And I will go with you,” said Mr. Graham.