madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第9章
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you will read some day in that noble book The Voyage of the Beagle； and
so the line of dots runs down to the southernmost point of America。
What a line we have traced！ Long enough to go round the world if it
were straight。 A line of holes out of which steam； and heat； and cinders；
and melted stones are rushing up； perpetually； in one place and another。
Now the holes in this line which are near each other have certainly
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something to do with each other。 For instance； when the earth shook the
other day round the volcanos of Quito； it shook also round the volcanos of
Peru； though they were 600 miles away。 And there are many stories of
earthquakes being felt； or awful underground thunder heard； while
volcanos were breaking out hundreds of miles away。 I will give you a
very curious instance of that。
If you look at the West Indies on the map； you will see a line of red
dots runs through the Windward Islands： there are two volcanos in them；
one in Guadaloupe； and one in St。 Vincent （I will tell you a curious story；
presently； about that last）； and little volcanos （if they have ever been real
volcanos at all）； which now only send out mud； in Trinidad。 There the
red dots stop： but then begins along the north coast of South America a
line of mountain country called Cumana； and Caraccas； which has often
been horribly shaken by earthquakes。 Now once； when the volcano in St。
Vincent began to pour out a vast stream of melted lava； a noise like
thunder was heard underground； over thousands of square miles beyond
those mountains； in the plains of Calabozo； and on the banks of the Apure；
more than 600 miles away from the volcano；a plain sign that there was
something underground which joined them together； perhaps a long crack
in the earth。 Look for yourselves at the places； and you will see that （as
Humboldt says） it is as strange as if an eruption of Mount Vesuvius was
heard in the north of France。
So it seems as if these lines of volcanos stood along cracks in the rind
of the earth； through which the melted stuff inside was for ever trying to
force its way； and that； as the crack got stopped up in one place by the
melted stuff cooling and hardening again into stone； it was burst in another
place； and a fresh volcano made； or an old one re…opened。
Now we can understand why earthquakes should be most common
round volcanos； and we can understand； too； why they would be worst
before a volcano breaks out； because then the steam is trying to escape；
and we can understand； too； why people who live near volcanos are glad
to see them blazing and spouting； because then they have hope that the
steam has found its way out； and will not make earthquakes any more for a
while。 But still that is merely foolish speculation on chance。 Volcanos
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can never be trusted。 No one knows when one will break out； or what it
will do； and those who live close to themas the city of Naples is close to
Mount Vesuviusmust not be astonished if they are blown up or
swallowed up； as that great and beautiful city of Naples may be without a
warning； any day。
For what happened to that same Mount Vesuvius nearly 1800 years
ago； in the old Roman times？ For ages and ages it had been lying quiet；
like any other hill。 Beautiful cities were built at its foot； filled with
people who were as handsome； and as comfortable； and （I am afraid） as
wicked； as people ever were on earth。 Fair gardens； vineyards； olive…
yards； covered the mountain slopes。 It was held to be one of the
Paradises of the world。 As for the mountain's being a burning mountain；
who ever thought of that？ To be sure； on the top of it was a great round
crater； or cup； a mile or more across； and a few hundred yards deep。 But
that was all overgrown with bushes and wild vines； full of boars and deer。
What sign of fire was there in that？ To be sure； also； there was an ugly
place below by the sea…shore； called the Phlegraen fields； where smoke
and brimstone came out of the ground； and a lake called Avernus over
which poisonous gases hung； and which （old stories told） was one of the
mouths of the Nether Pit。 But what of that？ It had never harmed any
one； and how could it harm them？
So they all lived on； merrily and happily enough； till； in the year A。D。
79 （that was eight years； you know； after the Emperor Titus destroyed
Jerusalem）； there was stationed in the Bay of Naples a Roman admiral；
called Pliny； who was also a very studious and learned man； and author of
a famous old book on natural history。 He was staying on shore with his
sister； and as he sat in his study she called him out to see a strange cloud
which had been hanging for some time over the top of Mount Vesuvius。
It was in shape just like a pine…tree； not； of course； like one of our
branching Scotch firs here； but like an Italian stone pine； with a long
straight stem and a flat parasol…shaped top。 Sometimes it was blackish；
sometimes spotted； and the good Admiral Pliny； who was always curious
about natural science； ordered his cutter and went away across the bay to
see what it could be。 Earthquake shocks had been very common for the
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last few days； but I do not suppose that Pliny had any notion that the
earthquakes and the cloud had aught to do with each other。 However； he
soon found out that they had； and to his cost。 When he got near the
opposite shore some of the sailors met him and entreated him to turn back。
Cinders and pumice…stones were falling down from the sky； and flames
breaking out of the mountain above。 But Pliny would go on： he said that
if people were in danger； it was his duty to help them； and that he must see
this strange cloud； and note down the different shapes into which it
changed。 But the hot ashes fell faster and faster； the sea ebbed out
suddenly； and left them nearly dry； and Pliny turned away to a place called
Stabiae； to the house of his friend Pomponianus； who was just going to
escape in a boat。 Brave Pliny told him not to be afraid； ordered his bath
like a true Roman gentleman； and then went into dinner with a cheerful
face。 Flames came down from the mountain； nearer and nearer as the
night drew on； but Pliny persuaded his friend that they were only fires in
some villages from which the peasants had fled； and then went to bed and
slept soundly。 However； in the middle of the night they found the
courtyard being fast filled with cinders； and； if they had not woke up the
Admiral in time； he would never have been able to get out of the house。
The earthquake shocks grew stronger and fiercer； till the house was ready
to fall； and Pliny and his friend； and the sailors and the slaves； all fled into
the open fields； amid a shower of stones and cinders； tying pillows over
their heads to prevent their being beaten down。 The day had come by
this time； but not the dawnfor it was still pitch dark as night。 They
went down to their boats upon the shore； but the sea raged so horribly that
there was no getting on board of them。 Then Pliny grew tired； and made
his men spread a sail for him； and lay down on it； but there came down
upon them a rush of flames； and a horrible smell of sulphur； and all ran for
their lives。 Some of the slaves tried to help the Admiral upon his legs；
but he sank down again overpowered with the brimstone fumes； and so
was left behind。 When they came back again； there he lay dead； but with
his clothes in order and his face as quiet as if he had been only sleeping。
And that was the end of a brave and learned mana martyr to duty and to
the love of science。
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But what was going on in the meantime？ Under clouds of ashes；
cinders； mud； lava； three of those happy cities were buried at once
Herculaneum； Pompeii； Stabiae。 They were buried just as the people had
fled from them； leaving the furniture and the earthenware； often even
jewels and gold； behind； and here and there among them a human being
who had not had time to escape from the dreadful deluge of dust。 The
ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii have been dug into since； and the
paintings； especially in Pompeii； are found upon the walls still fresh；
preserved from the air by the ashes which have covered them in。 When
you are older you perhaps will go to Naples； and see in its famous
museum the curiosities which have been dug out of the ruined cities； and
you will walk； I suppose； along the streets of Pompeii and see the wheel…
tracks in the pavement； along which carts and chariots rumbled 2000 years
ago。 Meanwhile； if you go nearer home； to the Crystal Palace and to the
Pompeian Court； as it is called； you will see an exact model of one of
these old buried houses； copied even to the very paintings on the wells；
and judge for yourself； as far as a little boy can judge； what sort of life
these thoughtless； luckless people lived 2000 years ago。
And what had become of Vesuvius； the treacherous mountain？ Half
or more than half of the side of the old crater had been blown away； and
what was left； which is now
