“It will soon be in action,” the United States counsel said.  “I had a letter from a correspondent near there only yesterday, and he said the people in the town were getting anxious.  They are fearing a shower of burning ashes, or that the eruption may be accompanied by an earthquake.”

“Good!” cried Tom.  “Oh, I don’t mean it exactly that way,” he hastened to add, as he saw the counsel looking queerly at him.  “I meant that I could get pictures of both earthquake and volcano then.  I don’t wish the poor people any harm.”

“Well, you’re the first one I ever saw who was anxious to get next door to a volcano,” remarked the counsel.  “Hold on, though, that’s not quite right.  I heard yesterday that a couple of young fellows passed through here on their way to the same place.  Come to think of it, they were moving picture men, also.”

“Great Scott!” cried Tom.  “Those must be my rivals, I’ll wager.  I must get right on the job.  Thanks for the information,” and hurrying front the office he joined his friends on the airship. and was soon aloft again.

“Look, Tom, what’s that?” cried Ned, about noon the next day when the Flyer, according to their calculations must be nearing the city of Arequipa.  “See that black cloud over there.  I hope it isn’t a tornado, or a cyclone, or whatever they call the big wind storms down here.”

Tom, and the others, looked to where Ned pointed.  There was a column of dense smoke hovering in the air, lazily swirling this way and that.  The airship was rapidly approaching it.

“Why that—­” began Tom, but before he could complete the sentence the smoke was blown violently upward.  It became streaked with fire, and, a moment later, there was the echo of a tremendous explosion.

“The volcano!” cried Tom.  “The Arequipa volcano!  We’re here just in time, for she’s in eruption now!  Come on, Ned, help me get out the camera!  Mr. Damon, you and Mr. Nestor manage the airship!  Put us as close as you dare!  I’m going to get some crackerjack pictures!”

Once more came a great report.

“Bless my toothpick!” gasped Mr. Damon.  “This is awful!” And the airship rushed on toward the volcano which could be plainly seen now, belching forth fire, smoke and ashes.

CHAPTER XXIV — THE MOLTEN RIVER

“Whew!” gasped Ned, as he stood beside Tom in the bow of the airship.  “What’s that choking us, Tom?”

“Sulphur, I guess, and gases from the volcano.  The wind blew ’em over this way.  They’re not dangerous, as long as there is no carbonic acid gas given off, and I don’t smell any of that, yet.  Say, Ned, it’s erupting all right, isn’t it?”

“I should say so!” cried his chum.

“Put us a little to one side, Mr. Damon,” called Tom to his friend, who was in the pilot house.  “I can’t get good pictures through so much smoke.  “It’s clearer off to the left.”