THE BURNING MOUNTAIN.
The tunnel through which Ashman propelled the canoe containing himself
and Ariel, was more than a hundred yards in length. It was only for
the smallest distance that the craft was in darkness, when the water
began to reflect light and reveal its outlines.
A few minutes later the tunnel was passed, and they debouched into an
expansion of the enchanted lake. The second division was similar to
the other and almost as large, but its appearance was tenfold more
wonderful.
The sheet of water may be said to have been divided into two nearly
equal parts by the narrow tunnel running under the mass of rocks
described. One division was in the outer air, after the usual fashion
of lakes, while the other was wholly underground.
The interior lake was nearly circular in shape, with an arching roof
hundreds of feet high. It was surrounded by towering crags, and
volcanic masses of stone, which gave it an appearance different from
anything on which Fred Ashman had ever looked. Nothing grander,
wilder, more picturesque or romantic can be conceived. It was a scene
which an explorer could stand for hours and contemplate in rapt
admiration.
But the most amazing feature of this underground lake was the way in
which it was illuminated, so that every portion stood out in as bold
relief as if under the flaming sun of mid-day.
At the western side, the shore, as was the case in nearly all other
directions, was a mass of jagged rocks, piled upon each other in the
wildest confusion. Beyond these rocks, was a vast chasm above the
level of the lake, and extending right and left for a distance of fifty
rods. This huge chasm was one mass of crimson light, whose rays
pierced every nook and cranny on every side of the lake.
The eye gazing in that direction saw something similar to that which
greets the traveller in the far north, when viewing the play of the
aurora borealis in the horizon, or when the red sun is rising from its
ocean bed.
This enormous opening was so surcharged with light that Ashman, after
contemplating it but a minute or two, did not need to ask its source.
Beyond the area of illumination was the burning mountain whose
blood-red glow covered the entire surface and shores of the underground
portion of the enchanted lake. The volcano had been aflame for ages,
and was likely to continue to burn for centuries to come.
Such an eternal conflagration must have an outlet for the vast quantity
of vapor generated, and Ashman wondered that he had not noticed the
ascending smoke on his way thither. He recalled that when he and his
friend were coming up the Xingu, far below the last rapids, they
observed a dark cloud resting in the western horizon. There was no
thought at that time that it was caused by a burning mountain, but such
must have been the fact. The most singular fact was, that while on his
way across the lake to the tunnel, he had failed to notice and remark
it.
There was a steady draft in the direction of the flaming cavern. He
had observed it while paddling through the tunnel where it was strong
enough to assist in the propulsion of the canoe. It was caused by the
ascent of the vapor through the chimney of the fiery mountain, and
averted the intolerable heat that otherwise would have been felt over
every portion of the lake. As it was, a moderate increase of
temperature was perceptible.
Ashman was tempted to paddle the canoe to the black rocks which
separated the chasm from the lake, and he timidly moved the blade,
restrained by the fear of something in the nature of a "back draft,"
which might consume them before they could escape.
Ariel assured him that she had never encountered or heard of anything
of the kind, though she had often visited this remarkable region in the
company of her father. Thereupon Ashman sent the boat ahead faster
than before, and a minute later the bow touched the rocky wharf.
Stepping out, he drew the bow upon the rocks, so as to hold it fast,
and, extending his hand, assisted her to shore. Then he drew the craft
still further up, and, taking her hand again in his own, began picking
their way over the jagged bowlders and stones to the edge of the
volcano.
From the margin of the lake to the other side of the mass of rocks was
a hundred feet. This may be defined as a solid wall, shutting out the
water from the burning mountain. The rocks rose to a height of a dozen
rods or so, attaining which a spectator found himself half-way across
the dividing ridge, where, viewed from the lake, his figure looked as
if stamped in ink on the crimson background.
It was here that the lovers paused and viewed the striking picture
spread out before their vision.
That which they saw might properly be considered the crater of the
volcano. It was four or five acres in extent, irregular in contour,
and so filled with gases and vapors that one could not see the bottom,
while the jagged boundary on the farther side came out to view only at
intervals, when the obstructing smoke was swept aside.
Spiral columns of black vapor twisted swiftly upward from the fiery
depths, sometimes side by side, and sometimes they would unite and
climb toward the opening above, like a couple of huge serpents
struggling together. The air quivered and pulsated in certain
portions, as if with fervid heat, and Ashman fancied once or twice that
he caught glimpses of a vast mass of molten stuff, far down in the
mountain, surging; seething and turning upon itself with terrific
violence. But the glare was so dazzling that it was like staring at
the sun, and he was compelled to withdraw his gaze.
The opening above, through which all this vapor and gas effected its
escape into the clear atmosphere outside, was of irregular outline and
no more than twenty feet across. It was at a great height above the
spectators, and ought to have been visible many miles in every
direction.
Now and then Ashman caught the odor of the sulphurous fumes rising from
the naming depth, and he could not help reflecting that if the
ascending vapors should swerve toward them only for a minute or two,
they would be asphyxiated before they could get away; but he could not
shrink, when his lovely companion stood so boldly by his side, unmoved
by the impressive scene.
When he had become accustomed in a degree to the sight, the like of
which he had never viewed before, he recalled that they could not
occupy a more conspicuous position, in the event of being pursued by
their enemies to the underground lake.
As we have explained, they were standing on the highest portion of the
rocky wall, separating the burning mountain from the subterranean
portion of the enchanted lake. In this situation, they were in sight
from every portion of the shore; any one entering by the tunnel, as
they had done, would descry them almost at once, because of the vivid
background against which their figures were thrown.
This fact led Ashman to turn to his love and suggest that they should
leave the spot. She nodded her head in acquiescence, and, still
clasping hands, they began picking their way down among the bowlders to
the spot where they had left their canoe a short time before.