However, there were here no traces of lava, which was spread more particularly over the northern slopes.
Cyrus Harding expected to reach, without incident, the course of the creek, which he supposed flowed under the trees at the border of the plain, when he saw Herbert running hastily back, while Neb and the sailor were hiding behind the rocks.
"What's the matter, my boy ?" asked Spilett.
"Smoke," replied Herbert.

"We have seen smoke among the rocks, a hundred paces from us." "Men in this place ?" cried the reporter.
"We must avoid showing ourselves before knowing with whom we have to deal," replied Cyrus Harding.

"I trust that there are no natives on this island; I dread them more than anything else.

Where is Top ?" "Top is on before." "And he doesn't bark ?" "No." "That is strange.

However, we must try to call him back." In a few moments, the engineer, Gideon Spilett, and Herbert had rejoined their two companions, and like them, they kept out of sight behind the heaps of basalt.
From thence they clearly saw smoke of a yellowish color rising in the air.
Top was recalled by a slight whistle from his master, and the latter, signing to his companions to wait for him, glided away among the rocks.