The next day Cleggett saw several of these fragments lying about the plain.
Calling to his men to bring lanterns--for the night had fallen dark and cloudy--Cleggett ran towards the place.

Lady Agatha, refusing to remain behind, went with them.

Moving lights and a stir of activity at Morris's, and the gleam of lanterns on board the Annabel Lee, showed Cleggett that his neighbors likewise were excited.
But if Cleggett had expected an easy solution of this astonishing eruption he was disappointed.

Arrived at the scene of the explosion, he found that its nature was such as to tease and balk his faculties of analysis.

The blast had blown a hole into the ground, certainly; but this hole was curiously filled.