Now, there is no proof that Snaefell is extinct.

Who can assure us that an eruption is not brewing at this very moment?
Does it follow that because the monster has slept since 1229 he must therefore never awake again?
And if he wakes up presently, where shall we be?
It was worth while debating this question, and I did debate it.

I could not sleep for dreaming about eruptions.

Now, the part of ejected scoriae and ashes seemed to my mind a very rough one to act.
So, at last, when I could hold out no longer, I resolved to lay the case before my uncle, as prudently and as cautiously as possible, just under the form of an almost impossible hypothesis.
I went to him.

I communicated my fears to him, and drew back a step to give him room for the explosion which I knew must follow.