In Search of an Unknown Race — page 132: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122 VAN. observed Flores, but as both Van and Ninada regarded him inquiringly, Mr. Briscoe, with a show of irritation very unlike his usual even, dispassionate manner, turned upon his ward. ‘Don’t talk nonsense, Flores,” he exclaimed, sharply. ‘You know very well that their saying referred to the slight and perfectly harmless eruption whose effects Van noticed and spoke of having felt a little before he came to us.” Flores shrugged his shoulders. ‘<The small reservoir among the lower hills has gone dry,” he said, with a meaning in his tone which per- haps Mr. Briscoe alone comprehended. It was at the same moment that Van suddenly pointed upward with his hand. ‘* Look,” he said, in a low tone. From the distant craterrosea livid column of mingled fireandsmoke, likea gigantic blazing tree trunk with wide spreading branches. It quivered in the smoky atmos- phere for a moment—as wondrous a sight as the fiery cross which Constantine saw in the heavens—and then sank down into the density from which it had risen ! A slight exclamation escaped Ninada’s lips, but glanc- ing ather father she was quickly reassured by thecalm immobility of his features. So, toa certain extent, was Van himself. But the strange phenomenon had only for a second attacted Flores’s attention. His piercing eyes, follow- ing the direction of Van’s extended hand, had seen something of far greater importance to himself. Grasping Van’s wrist with a quick movement, he drew the young fellow’s hand toward him. (CONNIE NOON KS (E(@) im