BACKCUP IAI

and setting sail they sought refuge in Southampton
Harbour.

Throughout the Bermudas there was consternation at
the news of a volcano, dormant for centuries, and now
about to becomeactive at the western extremity of the group.
But, at the same time as the terror of some became mani-
fest the curiosity of others was aroused. I was one of the
latter. It was important, also, to study the phenomenon
in order to ascertain whether the fishermen had not exag-
gerated the consequences.

Backcup, which rose abruptly at the west of the
Bermudas, was connected with them by a string of
tiny islands and reefs, inaccessible from the east. It
could not be seen from either. Hamilton or St. George,
as its summit did not exceed three hundred feet in
height.

A cutter from Southampton Harbour conveyed us—
some explorers, and myself—to its shore, where the cabins,
deserted by the fisher folk, stood. The internal thunder
was still to be heard,and a cloud of smoke escaped from
the top.

We had no doubt in our minds: the extinct volcano of
Backcup was rekindled under the action of subterranean
fire. An eruption might happen any day.

We tried in vain to reach the orifice of the volcano.
But ascent was impossible on those declivities, abrupt,
smooth, and slippery, offering no hold for foot or hand, and
profiling at an angle of seventy-five or eighty degrees. I
never saw anything more barren than that carapace of rock,