"Yes," said Moses, ceasing to masticate for purposes of speech; "dem
'stinkt volcanoes hab got an okard habit ob unstinkin' dereselves
hereabouts when you don' 'spect it of 'em. Go on, massa. I ax yer
pard'n for 'truptin'."

The hermit's peculiar good-natured little smile played for a moment on
his massive features, and then faded away as he continued--

"Perhaps you may have heard that this is the very heart of the district
that has long been recognised as the greatest focus of volcanic activity
on the globe?"

"I have heard something of the sort," answered Nigel, "but I confess
that my knowledge is limited and my mind hazy on the subject."

"I doubt it not," returned his friend, "for geographical and scientific
training in primary schools anywhere is not what it might be. The island
of Java, with an area about equal to that of England, contains no fewer
than forty-nine great volcanic mountains, some of which rise to 12,000
feet above the sea-level. Many of these mountains are at the present
time active ('Yes, much _too_ active,' muttered the negro), and more
than half of them have been seen in eruption since Java was occupied by
Europeans. Hot springs, mud-volcanoes, and vapour-vents abound all over
the island, whilst earthquakes are by no means uncommon. There is a
distinct line in the chain of these mountains which seems to point to a
great fissure in the earth's crust, caused by the subterranean fires.
This tremendous crack or fissure crosses the Straits of Sunda, and in
consequence we find a number of these vents--as volcanic mountains may
be styled--in the Island of Sumatra, which you saw to the nor'ard as you