A few minutes later the tunnel was passed, and they debouched into an expansion of the enchanted1 lake. The second division was similar to the other and almost as large, but its appearance was tenfold more wonderful.
The sheet of water may be said to have been divided into two nearly equal parts by the narrow tunnel running under the mass of rocks described. One division was in the outer air, after the usual fashion of lakes, while the other was wholly underground.
The interior lake was nearly circular in shape, with an arching roof hundreds of feet high. It was surrounded by towering crags, and volcanic2 masses of stone, which gave it an appearance different from anything on which Fred Ashman had ever looked. Nothing grander, wilder, more picturesque3 or romantic can be conceived. It was a scene which an explorer could stand for hours and contemplate4 in rapt admiration5.
But the most amazing feature of this underground lake was the way in which it was illuminated6, so that every portion stood out in as bold relief as if under the flaming sun of mid-day.
At the western side, the shore, as was the case in nearly all other directions, was a mass of jagged rocks, piled upon each other in the wildest confusion. Beyond these rocks, was a vast chasm7 above the level of the lake, and extending right and left for a distance of fifty rods. This huge chasm was one mass of crimson8 light, whose rays pierced every nook and cranny on every side of the lake.
The eye gazing in that direction saw something similar to that which greets the traveller in the far north, when viewing the play of the aurora9 borealis in the horizon, or when the red sun is rising from its ocean bed.
This enormous opening was so surcharged with light that Ashman, after contemplating10 it but a minute or two, did not need to ask its source. Beyond the area of illumination was the burning mountain whose blood-red glow covered the entire surface and shores of the underground portion of the enchanted lake. The volcano had been aflame for ages, and was likely to continue to burn for centuries to come.
Such an eternal conflagration11 must have an outlet12 for the vast quantity of vapor13 generated, and Ashman wondered that he had not noticed the ascending14 smoke on his way thither15. He recalled that when he and his friend were coming up the Xingu, far below the last rapids, they observed a dark cloud resting in the western horizon. There was no thought at that time that it was caused by a burning mountain, but such must have been the fact. The most singular fact was, that while on his way across the lake to the tunnel, he had failed to notice and remark it.
There was a steady draft in the direction of the flaming cavern16. He had observed it while paddling through the tunnel where it was strong enough to assist in the propulsion of the canoe. It was caused by the ascent17 of the vapor through the chimney of the fiery18 mountain, and averted19 the intolerable heat that otherwise would have been felt over every portion of the lake. As it was, a moderate increase of temperature was perceptible.
Ashman was tempted20 to paddle the canoe to the black rocks which separated the chasm from the lake, and he timidly moved the blade, restrained by the fear of something in the nature of a "back draft," which might consume them before they could escape.
Ariel assured him that she had never encountered or heard of anything of the kind, though she had often visited this remarkable21 region in the company of her father. Thereupon Ashman sent the boat ahead faster than before, and a minute later the bow touched the rocky wharf22.
Stepping out, he drew the bow upon the rocks, so as to hold it fast, and, extending his hand, assisted her to shore. Then he drew the craft still further up, and, taking her hand again in his own, began picking their way over the jagged bowlders and stones to the edge of the volcano.
From the margin23 of the lake to the other side of the mass of rocks was a hundred feet. This may be defined as a solid wall, shutting out the water from the burning mountain. The rocks rose to a height of a dozen rods or so, attaining24 which a spectator found himself half-way across the dividing ridge25, where, viewed from the lake, his figure looked as if stamped in ink on the crimson background.
It was here that the lovers paused and viewed the striking picture spread out before their vision.
That which they saw might properly be considered the crater26 of the volcano. It was four or five acres in extent, irregular in contour, and so filled with gases and vapors27 that one could not see the bottom, while the jagged boundary on the farther side came out to view only at intervals28, when the obstructing29 smoke was swept aside.
Spiral columns of black vapor twisted swiftly upward from the fiery depths, sometimes side by side, and sometimes they would unite and climb toward the opening above, like a couple of huge serpents struggling together. The air quivered and pulsated30 in certain portions, as if with fervid31 heat, and Ashman fancied once or twice that he caught glimpses of a vast mass of molten stuff, far down in the mountain, surging; seething32 and turning upon itself with terrific violence. But the glare was so dazzling that it was like staring at the sun, and he was compelled to withdraw his gaze.
The opening above, through which all this vapor and gas effected its escape into the clear atmosphere outside, was of irregular outline and no more than twenty feet across. It was at a great height above the spectators, and ought to have been visible many miles in every direction.
Now and then Ashman caught the odor of the sulphurous fumes33 rising from the naming depth, and he could not help reflecting that if the ascending vapors should swerve34 toward them only for a minute or two, they would be asphyxiated35 before they could get away; but he could not shrink, when his lovely companion stood so boldly by his side, unmoved by the impressive scene.
When he had become accustomed in a degree to the sight, the like of which he had never viewed before, he recalled that they could not occupy a more conspicuous36 position, in the event of being pursued by their enemies to the underground lake.
As we have explained, they were standing37 on the highest portion of the rocky wall, separating the burning mountain from the subterranean38 portion of the enchanted lake. In this situation, they were in sight from every portion of the shore; any one entering by the tunnel, as they had done, would descry39 them almost at once, because of the vivid background against which their figures were thrown.
This fact led Ashman to turn to his love and suggest that they should leave the spot. She nodded her head in acquiescence40, and, still clasping hands, they began picking their way down among the bowlders to the spot where they had left their canoe a short time before.
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1
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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2
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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4
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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10
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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11
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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12
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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13
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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16
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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17
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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18
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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19
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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21
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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24
attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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25
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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27
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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28
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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29
obstructing
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| 阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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30
pulsated
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| v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的过去式和过去分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动 | |
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31
fervid
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| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
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32
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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33
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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34
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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35
asphyxiated
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| v.渴望的，有抱负的，追求名誉或地位的( aspirant的过去式和过去分词 )；有志向或渴望获得…的人 | |
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36
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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37
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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39
descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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40
acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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