“Used to being swallowed up in the earth!” exclaimed Scott. “I believe it would take me a long time to get used to that sort of thing; for I am inclined to think it hurts.”
“Used to the liability, I mean,” protested Murray.
“That is certainly the case,” said the doctor. “One does not heed danger after he gets used to it. There are thousands of people who would not risk themselves on the ocean, as you do every day of your lives without thinking any thing of it at all.”
The party walked all over the town without seeing any thing that particularly attracted their attention, or that was worth recording. The next day they went to the Caldron, which is an extinct volcano. The crater is five miles around, the sides sloping uniformly down to the depth of seventeen hundred feet, and being covered with grass and foliage of plants. At the bottom is a lake with a small island in the middle of it. This island is a hill having a hole in the top of it, from which the subterranean fires once poured out.
Another day was given to an excursion over to Pico; and then the regular work of the schoolroom was resumed. The squadron remained a week at the port of Horta, wondering why the Ville d’Angers did not come.
“I am afraid my ward has given you the slip altogether,” said Judge Rodwood, when all hands were out of patience at the non-arrival of the steamer.
“I do not think so now; though I had some painful suspicions to that effect in the first of it,” replied Mr. Lowington.
“Capt. O’Hara has certainly had time enough to get here,” added the judge. “It is not more than a three-days’ run from Teneriffe to these islands.”
“Unless the Ville d’Angers returned to Funchal, Capt. O’Hara would not know where to look for the squadron,” argued the principal. “I have no doubt the students are safe enough, and that they will join us some time.”
“There may have been a row on board,” suggested Dr. Phelps. “You remember the captain had some trouble with his crew, according to the English paper which gave us the news.”