"Why, that landslide may have opened a great gully in the side
of Phantom Mountain, which will prevent us from passing. It was a
terrific lot of earth and stones that slid away," answered Mr.
Jenks.
"It certainly was," agreed Mr. Parker. "I would not be
surprised if the mountain was half destroyed, and it may be that
the diamond cave no longer exists."
"Not very cheerful, to say the least," murmured Mr. Jenks to
Tom, and, as it was getting quite chilly, following the storm,
they went inside the tent.
Tom could hardly wait for daylight, to get up and see what
havoc the landslide had wrought. As soon as the first faint flush
of dawn showed over the eastern peaks, he hurried from the tent.
Mr. Damon heard him arise, and followed.
A curious scene met their eyes. All about were great rocks rent
and torn by the awful power of the lightning. The fronts of the
stone cliffs were scarred and burned by the electrical fire, and
fantastic markings, grotesque faces, and leering animals seemed
to have been drawn by some gigantic artist who used a bolt from
heaven for his brush.
But the eyes of Tom and Mr. Damon took all this in at a glance,
and then their gaze went forward to where the avalanche had torn
away a great part of the mountain.
"Whew! I should say it was a landslide!" cried Tom.
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