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 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.