Nigel roused himself to consider this, and in doing so again dropped off--not yet soundly, however, for curiosity induced one more violent struggle, and he became aware of the fact that the hermit was on his knees with his face buried in his hands.
The youth's thoughts must have become inextricably confused at this point, yet their general drift was indicated by the muttered words: "I--I'm glad o' that--a good sign--an'-- an' it's _not_ th' Encyclop----." Here Morpheus finally conquered, and he sank into dreamless repose.
How long this condition lasted he could not tell, but he was awakened violently by sensations and feelings of dread, which were entirely new to him.

The bed on which he rested seemed to heave under him, and his ears were filled by sharp rattling sounds, something like--yet very different from--the continuous roll of musketry.
Starting up, he sprang into the large cavern where he found Van der Kemp quietly tightening his belt and Moses hastily pulling on his boots.
"Sometin's bu'sted an' no mistake!" exclaimed the latter.
"An eruption from one of the cones," said the hermit.

"I have been for a long time expecting it.

Come with us." He went swiftly up the staircase and passages which led to the observatory as he spoke.
The scene that met their eyes on reaching the ledge or plateau was sublime in the extreme, as well as terrific.
"As I thought," said Van der Kemp, in a low tone.

"It is Perboewatan that has broken out." "The cone from which I observed smoke rising ?" asked Nigel.
"The same.