第49章

"It's a good thing it isn't very near the city," he said to Tom, who was engaged in watching the automatic apparatus of the camera, to see when he would have to put in a fresh film."It wouldn't take much of this sort of thing to destroy a big city.But I don't see any streams of burning lava, such as they always say come out of a volcano.""It isn't time for that yet," replied Tom."The lava comes out last, after the top layer of stones and ashes have been blown out.They are a sort of stopper to the volcano, I guess, like the cork of a bottle, and, when they're out of the way, the red-hot melted rock comes out.Then there's trouble.I want to get pictures of that.""Well, keep far enough away," advised Mr.Nestor, who had come forward."Don't take any chances.I guess your rivals won't get here in time to take any pictures, for they can't travel as fast as we did.""No," agreed the young inventor, "unless some other party of them were here ahead of us.They'll have their own troubles, though, making pictures anything like as good as we're getting.""There goes another blast!" cried Ned, as a terrific explosion sounded, and a shower of hot stuff was thrown high into the air."If I lived inArequipa I'd be moving out about now."

"There isn't much danger I guess, except from showers of burning ashes, and volcanic dust," spoke Mr.Nestor, "and the wind is blowing it away from the town.If it continues this way the people will be saved.""Unless there is so much of the red-hot lava that it will bury the city," suggested Tom."I hope that doesn't happen," and he could not repress a shudder as he looked down on the awful scene below him.

After that last explosion the volcano appeared to subside somewhat, though great clouds of smoke and tongues of fire leaped upward.

"I've got to put in a new reel of film!" suddenly exclaimed Tom."While I stop the camera, Mr.Damon, I think you and Mr.Nestor might put the airship down to the ground.I want some views on the level.""What! Go down to earth with this awful volcano spouting fire?" cried Mr.Damon."Bless my comb and brush!""We can get well down the side of the mountain," said Tom."I won't go into any danger, much less ask any one else to do so, and I certainly don't want my ship damaged.We can land down there," he said, pointing to a spot on the side of the volcanic mountain, that was some distance removed from the mouth of the crater.It won't take me long to get one reel of views, and then I'll come up again."The two men finally gave in to Tom's argument, that there was comparatively little danger, for they admitted that they could quickly rise up at the first sign of danger, and accordingly the Flyer descended.Tom quickly had a fresh reel of film inserted, and started his camera to working, standing it on a tripod some distance from the airship.

Once more the volcano was "doing its prettiest," as Tom expressed it.He glanced around, as another big explosion took place, to see if any other picture men were on hand, but the terrible mountain seemed deserted, though of course someone might be on the other side.

"What's that?" suddenly cried Ned, looking apprehensively at his chum.At the same time Tom jumped to his feet, for he had been kneeling near the camera.

"Bless my--" began Mr.Damon, but he got no farther, for suddenly the solid ground began to tremble and shake.

"An earthquake!" shouted Mr.Nestor."Come, Tom! Get back to the ship!" The young inventor and Ned had been the only ones to leave it, as it rested on a spur of the mountain.

As Tom and Ned leaped forward to save the camera which was toppling to one side, there came a great fissure in the side of the volcano, and a stream of molten rock, glowing white with heat, gushed out.It was a veritable river of melted stone, and it was coming straight for the two lads."Run! Run!" cried Mr.Nestor."We have everything ready for a quickflight."Run, Tom! Ned!"

The lads leaped for the Flyer, the molten rock coming nearer and nearer, and then with a cry Koku sprang overboard and made a dash toward his master.