Part 19 (2/2)
”A theory?” inquired Tom
”Yes This island is one of the sroup It is little known, and has seldom been visited, I believe But I am sure that what causes the earthquakes is that the whole island has been underreat submarine waves and currents which cause the tremors”
”Under sloashed away”
”Bless asped Mr Damon
”And, in the course of a comparatively short time, it will sink,”
went on the scientist, as cheerfully as though he was a professor propounding some problem to his class
”Sink!” ejaculated Mrs Nestor ”The whole island under theory!”
”I wish I could hold to a different one, madam,” was Mr Parker's answer, ”but I cannot I think the island will sink after a few an Barcoe Jenks, but he stopped in confusion, and again his hand went to his belt with a queer gesture
CHAPTER XVII
A MIGHTY SHOCK
Toaze at Mr Barcoe Jenks That individual certainly had a strange ht be caused by the terror of the earthquakes, but theto hold back some secret He was constrained and ill at ease He saw the young inventor looking at hione to his belt, with a spasmodic motion, dropped to his side
”You don't really mean to say, Parker, that you think the whole island is undermined, do you?” asked the owner of the RESOLUTE
”That'sone, but it is borne out by the facts already presented to us I greatly fear for our lives!”
”But what can we do?” cried Mrs Nestor
”Nothing,” answered the scientist, with a shrug of his shoulders
”Absolutely nothing, save to wait for it to happen”
”Don't say that!” begged Mrs Andersen
”Can't you gentle--build a boat and take us away
Why, the boat we came here in--”
”Struck a rock, and stove a hole in the botto as a barrel, madam,” interrupted Captain Mentor ”It would never do to put to sea in that”
”But can't so else be done?” de on this terrible earthquake island Oh, Amos! Think of it, and Mary home alone! Have you seen her lately, Mr Swift?”
Tom told of his visit to the Nestors' home Our hero was almost in despair, not so much for himself, as for the unfortunate women of the party--and one of them was Mary's mother! Yet what could he do?