Fire Island Part 14

"And I ain't got the wash," cried Smith, in an ill-used tone.

"Beg pardon, sir, what time'll it be high water again?"

_Bang! Roosh_!

"Murder!" yelled Smith, throwing himself backward and rolling over, for with an explosion like that of steam, the water gushed up from the central hole, playing some twenty feet up in the air, filling the basin and deluging Wriggs before he could escape, and then dragging him back towards the central hole, down which it began to run, while the man roared l.u.s.tily for help.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A CROCODILE.

As soon as he could get upon his feet Smith ran as he supposed for his life, but his messmate's call drew him back and he ran as quickly to his help. Too late though to render any a.s.sistance, for Drew, who was nearest, leaned forward and caught Wriggs' hand, stopping his progress toward the centre for the moment, and then his feet glided from beneath him on the smooth, sloping tufa and he too went down, and had to be aided by Oliver and Panton, who drew both out just as Smith reached the edge of the basin.

"Why don't yer mind!" roared the latter, excitedly. "Want to lie down there in the hot water and drowned yerself?"

"No, matey, can't say as I do," growled Wriggs, shaking himself as he edged farther and farther away. "But this here's about the dangerousest place as I was ever in as I knows on. Been dowsed a good many times in my life, but not like this here. Got yourselves very wet, gentlemen?"

"Oh, no, only splashed," said Oliver. "Here, you two had better get back to the brig."

Smith looked at his messmate.

"Feared, mate?" he said.

"Eh?" replied Wriggs, rubbing his ear well. "I dunno 'bout feared now.

I'm werry wet."

"Then go back and change your things," said Oliver.

Wriggs scratched his head now and hesitated.

"Beg pardon, sir, I couldn't help letting go, 'cause I thought we was all going to be sucked down that hole, and yer couldn't tell whether yer was coming up again; and though I'm a tidy swimmer, I never tried hot water; but if so be as you don't mind, me and my mate'd rayther go on along with you."

"But you're so wet, my lad."

"Well, sir, that'll only be a job for the sun to dry us, and it's been a good wash for us and our duds too."

"Oh, if you don't mind," said Oliver; "I don't think it will hurt you.

What do you say, Wriggs?"

"I didn't say nothing, sir; I was only squeezing the hot water out o' my trowges."

"But do you mind being wet?"

"No, sir. I was born aboard a ca.n.a.l boat, and often tumbled in and had to be fished out by my father with the spitcher. I rayther like it."

"That's right, Billy. You don't want to go back, do you?"

"No, matey, I want to continue on my travels, and see this here cur'us land; only if we air to have another adventer I should like it to be a dry 'un, if it's all the same to the gents."

"Then come along," said Oliver, "you'll soon get dry."

"Oh, yes, sir," said Smith; "but if it's all the same to you, sir, I should like to know how that there thing works."

"Ah! that's more than I can tell you," replied Oliver, looking at the basin, which was once more clear blue, and as smooth as if it had never been disturbed. "It's a geyser, of course."

"Yes, sir," said Smith, as Oliver looked at him as if expecting he would speak; "I thought it was some'at o' that sort."

"And such things are not uncommon in volcanic countries."

"Arn't they though, sir?" said Smith, with a puzzled expression. "But it warn't byling hot."

"Oh, no, not within some seventy degrees."

"Then how come it to byle over, sir? Ain't that rather cur'us?"

"Yes, very curious indeed."

"Yes, sir, and this seems to be a rather cur'us place."

"Yes, Smith, and very grand and wonderful. We have been extremely fortunate to get ash.o.r.e in such a naturalist's paradise."

"Paradise, sir?" said Smith, with rather a curious look. "Well, sir, I shouldn't have called it that."

"Look here," cried Oliver to his two companions, "shall we wait and see if the geyser plays again?"

"Oh, no," said Drew, "I want to get forward. We shall have plenty more opportunities, and this forest ahead looks grand."

"Yes, come along," cried Panton, rising from chipping a piece of rock.

"Look here, this is evidently volcanic and full of iron. The mountain must be tremendous. Do you think it is always shut in by those clouds?"

"No," said Drew; "depend upon it they are caused by the late eruption.

That tremendous roar was the end, and I fancy it was caused by the water rushing in from the sea. This is only the steam rising. Here, Lane, you have fallen into the right place and can fill the British Museum if you are industrious."

They were now coming to the end of the barren tract made by the earthquake wave sweeping the rock in places bare, in others covering the surface with _debris_ of coral sand, rolled pebble and sh.e.l.l from the sea; but before reaching the band of verdure which stood at the top of a slope, they had to pa.s.s two or three depressions in which mud and water still lay, and upon reaching one of these they found to their surprise that it was _far_ more extensive than they had antic.i.p.ated. For there before them stretched acres upon acres of a muddy lagoon, dotted with islands, and evidently alive with fish swept in from the sea.

"Hi! look-ye there, Billy Wriggs!" cried Smith, excitedly. "See that?"

"Course I can, matey; it's water."

"Well, I know that, stoopid, but look what's in it. Over yonder on that bank--there close alongside o' that lump o' white rock."

"What of it?" said Wriggs. "Only a trunk of an old tree."

"Ay, four-legged 'un, with a head and tail, having a nap in the sunshine. Why, it's one o' them eft things as we used to ketch with a worm in the ponds when we was boys."

"Get out! You go and play tricks with some 'un else, matey," said Wriggs, contemptuously. "Think I don't know no better than that?"